Every Muslim invariably uses this phrase one way or the other. It is also used as a battle-cry.

In the west, however, this phrase has, by design, been associated with terrorist-attack.

In general, everyone including Non-Muslim, know its, obvious exoteric meaning: “God is great”. Most of the people, however, do not know its esotericgrandeur, splendor and majesty.

An attempt, therefore, is made to explain/present the grandeur and splendor of this phrase. I, earnestly, seek the help of Almighty Allah (SWT) to make me able to explain it properly.

The earth we live on (specifically fashioned to suit the human habitation) was created before the creation of the Universe. It is worth noticing that although Qura’an mentions “seven”earths but none of the rest of the six has so far been discovered; as the exact replica of our earth, including the recently discovered (Exoplanet 452b) earth-II.

Our earth appears merely a tiny dot in the faintly luminous band, stretching across the heavens, of our Galaxy, Milky Way. The closest galaxy is the recently discovered dwarf galaxy, VY Canis Majoris, which is 25,000 light-years away. One light year is equal to 9.461 trillion kilometers.

Approximately 60,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 men would equal the size of our earth

The diameter of our sun is: 1.392 million km whereas the Diameter of our earth is only: 12,740 km, the sun can hold 1,300,000 Earths inside of it.

Eta Carinae more than 5 million times bigger and brighter than the sun.

Betel Geuse 30 million times bigger than our sun.

VY CanisMajorisis about 1b times bigger than our sun.

Milky Way contains between 300 to 400b suns/stars. If one can travel (almost) at the speed of light or 300,000 km per second it would require 101,000+ years to cover it.

Andromeda—our neighbor galaxy is twice as big.

Galaxy M18—is 60 times bigger than ours.

Galaxy IC-1011—is 600 times bigger than ours.

Virgo Supercluster, housing our galaxy, consists of 47000 galaxies.

Local Goup—Supercluster—consists of around 100 clusters.

There exist around 100, 0000 Superclusters in the universe.

That is not it, but also that, there is nothing in the entire created realm which does not bow down to its Creator—Allah (SWT)–willingly or unwillingly.

“Whatever beings are there in the Heaven and the Earth do prostrate themselves before Allah (SWT) alone, willingly or unwillingly, as do their shadows morning and evening” (Q, 13:15)

(Human beings, Angels, spirits and other things of objective existence; contrasted with their shadows and simulacra, phantasms etc. Satan and Evil, though would like to get away from the awe of Allah (SWT) but not being able, would acknowledge the supremacy and Lordship of Allah (SWT).

Those who submit willingly are the believers, angels and inanimate beings. Non-believers are the ones who submit, without being conscious, unwillingly.

Sum total

They (rational beings) have not appraised Allah (SWT) with the true appraisal, while the Earth, on the Day of Resurrection, will be entirely within His grip, and the Heavens will be folded in His right hand. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him. (Q, 39:67) Allah-o-Akbar!

In 1521, the Portuguese navigator and explorer Ferdinand Magellan carrying the Spanish flag came across the Philippines while searching for the Spice Island. (most likely Indian sub-continent) Ferdinand Magellan and his men landed in Cebu Island in the central Philippines instead.

With his arrival in Cebu on March 17, 1521, his first attempt was to colonize and Christianize the islands and its inhabitants. The story goes that Magellan met with Rajah Humabon, the ruler of the Cebu island, who had an ill grandson. Magellan (or one of his men) was able to cure or help the young boy recover, and in gratitude, RajahHumabon allowed himself, his chief consort Humamay, and 800 of his subjects to be baptized en masse. (No Independent confirmation of this fabricated story, however, is available).

After Magellan died, the Spanish government replaced him by sending Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. He arrived in Cebu from New Spain (now Mexico). Spain introduced Christianity and colonized the Philippines. The first permanent Spanish settlement was established in Cebu in 1565, making it the new Spanish Colony Capital, with Legazpi as the first Governor.

After Magellan, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi conquered the Muslim Kingdom of Maynila in 1570. The Spanish missionaries were able to spread Christianity in Luzon and the Visayas by using all kinds of tricks and coercion, but the diverse array of ethnolinguistic groups in the highland areas of Luzon and Visayas avoided Spanish annexation owing to their remote and difficult mountainous region. Sultanates in Mindanao retained the Islamic faith as its official religion; which had been present in the southern Philippines since sometime between the 10th and 12th century, it slowly spread north throughout the archipelago, particularly in coastal areas.

The resistance; to the western invasion, colonization and forced conversion to Christianity makes, an important part of the national history of the Philippines. Although many western historians have frivolously claimed that the Philippines peacefully accepted Spanish rule; the reality is that many insurgencies and rebellions continued on many scales and places throughout the Spanish Colonial period.

The Spanish contrivances rendered unsuccessful in converting Muslim Sultanates to Christianity, and in fact warred with Muslim Filipinos throughout their 300-year colonial rule from 1521 – 1898. Nor did they successfully conquer certain highland areas, such the Luzon highlands, where a diverse array of ethnolinguistic groups used their remote, difficult mountainous terrain to successfully avoid colonization and conversion.

Spanish clergies were highly contemptuous and destructive towards local and Islamic religious practices. They systematically destroyed indigenous holy places and symbols. They also tried to stamp out all examples of native scripts and literature for fear that Filipinos were using exotic symbols to foment rebellion.

Islam had been present in the southern Philippines since sometime between the 10th and 12th century. It slowly spread north throughout the archipelago, particularly in coastal areas. Had it not been for Spanish intervention, the Philippines definitely would have been a Muslims dominated country like Malaysia, Indonesia and others in the area.

Military courts pending renewal, Surge in terrorist activities, Model-town killing case, Zardari and co’s impending indictment, the wrap-up of Sharif dynasty, Sahiwal Killing etc. are all designed towards complete chaos and the collapse of PTI Government, by hand in gloves, International and domestic forces.

An activist Chief-Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court–Mian Saqib Nisar–(above) retired yesterday with a panoply of feathers in his hat. History would remember him with both; admiration and scoffing. He sure won my kudos for much of what he did while, come on, give me a break! for bragging; sleeping for 3 hours only, bargaining for RS. 1000B of looted money with Malik Riaz to get him absolved of all crimes, Idolizing an aider/abettor of political-Dons’ lawyer; Aitazaz Ahsan. This was way out of the whack.

He created a sense of terror; which is “inevitable” in countries like Pakistan, where the incumbent government is impotent and everyone else has been busy plundering, robbing and hurting it for 70+ years as a norm.

New Chief-Justice–Asif Saeed Khosa (above)–took oath at the hands of an educated, professional and clean President. This sure is a sign of fortune for a country; with enormous potentials and strategically positioned, like Pakistan.

“Depopulation should be the highest priority of foreign policy towards the Third World.”

A game turned against the perpetrators.

“And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners” (Q, 3:54)

We are all familiar with the slogan “Family Planning” hurled all over the world. Most of the western countries “unwittingly”, oblivious of its bitter outcome, embraced and practiced it religiously.

Thomas Robert Malthus, an English cleric and philosopher; abandoning his religiously structured thinking for secularism, penned his catastrophic theory in 1798. He came up with the weird concepts of geometrical population growth in comparison to arithmetical food supply growth; concluding that resulting disparate population growth; in terms of diminishing return, would result in food shortage.

He further theorized that so created imbalance could be corrected through preventive and positive checks on population growth to a sustainable level. The result is Malthusian Catastrophe faced by most of the western countries in the form of negative or lowest level of population growth.

Positive Checks or Natural Checks

He believed that natural forces will correct the imbalance between food supply and population growth in the form of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes and man-made actions such as wars and famines. (Man taking the matter in his own hands—depriving Africa and the developing Muslim dominated third world countries of the food and resources. Forced sterilization–part of his man-made actions).

Preventative Checks

To correct the imbalance, Malthus also suggested using preventative measures to control the growth of the population. These measures include family planning,late marriages, and celibacy.

The effect of these measures turned the western society upside down as it gave rise to the following abnormal, rather perverted, thinking such as: –

Hell, with the children let’s have fun for the longest time.

Let’s have the children we can afford; as if there is no sustainer, which resulted in decelerated population growth/negative population growth.

No fear of pregnancy (due to contraception/abortion) gave rise to rampant promiscuity.

Abortion—became as easy as, throwing the baby out with the bathwater or like dispensing away the used condom.

As a consequence, countries were/are forced to offer an incentive such as paternity leave to encourage the population growth (France).

“And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin” (Q, 17:31)

Muslims on the other hand, by and large, did not pay heed to this nonsensical secular propaganda and continued as usual. Treading this path, however, has not been without criticism and sufferings but the result is that by 2030 Muslim would become the largest religious group of the World.

The neutralist view: rapid population growth neither promotes nor impedes economic growth, has held sway. The emergence of this view has coincided with a declining interest in family planning as an instrument of economic development.

The Islamic perspective on population growth & prevention.

A vast majority of fuqahâ’ (Muslim-Jurists)—past and present—hold that temporarily putting off childbearing is permissible on an individual basis (In my view, it ought to be legitimized by some compulsion–Author),but not as a societal ideal which overrides the default encouragement to have children.

The philosophy of Sharia – the Clear Path

There is a comprehensive Islamic philosophy underpinning Sharia.

“For each, (of your group) We have appointed a divine law and a traced-out way. Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So, vie one with another in good works. Unto Allah, ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ”.(Q, 5:48)

For Muslims, life did not begin at birth, but a long time before that. Before even the creation of the first man. It began when God created the souls of everyone who would ever exist and asked them, “Am I not your Lord?” They all replied, “Yea.”

God decreed for each soul a time on earth so that He might try them. Then, after the completion of their appointed terms, He would judge them and send them to their eternal destinations: either one of endless bliss or one of everlasting grief.

This life, then, is a journey that presents to its wayfarers many paths. Only one of these paths is clear and straight. This path is the Sharia.

Prophet (PBUH) said: “Marry those who are loving and fertile, for I will be proud of your great numbers before the other nations.” Abu Dawood (2050) narrated that Ma’qil ibn Yasaar said; Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 1784.

Imam Ghazali said: when a man gets married, intending thereby to have children, this is an act of worship for which he will be rewarded in multiple ways because of his good intentions.

1) The perpetuation of Human race, willed by Allah (SWT).

2) Fulfilling the wish/will of the Prophet—numerical superiority of Muslim Nation.

Most Muslim dominated countries are governed by Western (or western like) Laws, codes and institutions. This hybrid (mix of) “Anglo-Islamic”legal system has vitiated the governance by/role of Islamic laws; thereby making an analogical deduction (Qiyas–reasoning) easy, to legitimize the use of modern contraceptive techniques. Many Muslim dominated countries, therefore, promulgated laws to combat overpopulation despite ambiguity on the issue of fertility control. The Qura’an, (first source of Islamic law), forbids the killing of Children in categorical terms (Q,17:31), while being silent on the use of contraception. Allah also promised well-being of those who get married despite lacking means. (Q, 24:32) (Guaranteeing the sustenance, (Q,29:60).

[Remember] We do not ask thee to provide sustenance [for your family/people] it is We who provide sustenance for you and your family/people. And the future belongs to the God-conscious. (Q, 20:132)

Most sayings of the Prophet on the subject of coitus interruptus (Azal) are reticent. The position commonly and historically shared by Islamic jurists coincides with Al-Ghazali’s interpretation; according to which; coitus interruptus is barely tolerable (Makrooh). There have always been a minority of jurists, absolutely opposed to contraception. Most jurists tend to forbid permanent birth control except when necessitated by serious hazards/issues.

The abortion to prevent childbirth is clearly forbidden in Islam (Q, 17:31).

Despite governments having passed family planning laws, much of the general public believes that Islamic laws prohibit contraception.

Note: Practicing “AZAL” (Coitus interruptus—pre-ejaculation withdrawal) was allowed, with reticence despite it being “makrooh” repugnant. (as the condom had not then been invented) Therefore, the use of condom instead may; on the basis of analogical deduction; vitiate the psychological and physical reasons attached to coitus interruptus,while usedfor gaping the pregnancies.

Gaping the pregnancies do not seem to be impermissible/reprehensible; for there is no textual or hadithic forbiddance available, as is in the case of permanent birth control.

The Islamic concept of breastfeeding a baby, for two [to two and a half-gestating/weaning period—Q, 46:15] years, rather supports the gaping in pregnancies. {Q, 2:233} [Breastfeeding is a natural means of contraception for the mother]

Asia, Africa and the Middle East and the Muslim population in Europe; the main beneficiaries of the “Demographic Dividend”

Demographic dividend, as defined by the United Nations Population Fund, means; “the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population (15 to 64) is larger than the non-working-age share of the population (14 and younger, and 65 and older)”. In other words, it is “a boost in economic productivity that occurs when there are growing numbers of people in the workforce relative to the number of dependents” The demographic dividend is delivered through a number of mechanisms. The most important are labor supply, savings, and human capital.

Remarkable’ decline in fertility rates

The study, published in the Lancet, followed trends in every country from 1950 to 2017. In 1950, women were having an average of 4.7 children in their lifetime. The fertility rate all but halved to 2.4 children per woman by last year. But that masks huge variation between nations. The fertility rate in Niger, West Africa, is 7.1, but in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, women are having one child, on average. In the UK, the rate is 1.7, similar to most Western European countries.

Births per woman in year 2016

How high does the fertility rate have to be?

The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime (It’s different to the birth rate which is the number of children born per thousand people each year). Whenever a country’s rate drops below approximately 2.1 then the population will eventually start to shrink (this “baby bust” figure is significantly higher in countries which have high rates of death in childhood). At the start of the study, in 1950, there were zero nations in this position.

Reasons for falling fertility rate

The fall in fertility rate is not down to sperm counts or any of the things that normally come to mind when thinking of fertility. Instead, it is being put down to three key factors:

Bottom 10 lowest fertility rate countries in 2017

The Population Control Holocaust.

Accordingly, ideologues at some of the highest levels of power and influence formulated a party line that the population of the world’s poor nations needed to be drastically cut in order to reduce the potential recruitment pool available to the communist cause.{It may now be argued, by the same elements, that thispool will be available for terrorist recuitment}

President Lyndon Johnson was provided a fraudulent study by a RAND Corporation economist that used cooked calculations to “prove” that Third World children actually had negative economic value. Thus, by allowing excessive numbers of children to be born, Asian, African, and Latin American governments were deepening the poverty of their populations, while multiplying the masses of angry proletarians ready to be led against America by the organizers of the coming World Revolution.

An Office of Population was set up within USAID, and Dr. Reimert Thorolf Ravenholt was appointed its first director in 1966. He would hold the post until 1979, using it to create a global empire of interlocking population control organizations operating with billion-dollar budgets to suppress the existence of people considered undesirable by the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Ravenholt, an epidemiologist by training, he apparently looked on pregnancy as a disease, to be eradicated in the same way one eliminates smallpox or yellow fever. He was also, as it happened, a bellicose misanthrope. His business cards were printed on condoms, and he delighted in handing them out to all comers.

Henry Kissinger, an evil mind!

We found a big hunk in NSSM 200, also known as “Implications of Worldwide Population Growth for U.S. Security and Overseas Interests (THE KISSINGER REPORT).” NSSM stands for “National Security Study Memorandum.” The government document was published in 1974 and made public in 1980. The Kissinger Report says that the U.S. economy will require large and increasing amounts of minerals from abroad, especially from less developed countries. Whatever may be done to guard against interruptions of supply and to develop domestic alternatives, needs to be done.That fact gives the U.S. enhanced interest in the political, economic, and social stability of the supplying countries. Wherever a lessening of population pressures through reduced birth rates can increase the prospects for such stability, population policy becomes relevant to resource supplies and to the economic interests of the United States.

In a national security memo dated April 24, 1974, titled, “Implications of Worldwide Population Growth for the United States Security and Overseas Interest,” Henry Kissinger, the Secretary of State under Richard Nixon, indicated: “Depopulation should be the highest priority of foreign policy towards the Third World.”Depopulation— depopulate something means: “To ravage, to ruin, to reduce the population, by violence, disease, etc.” Mr. Kissinger continued, this means they are going to destroy the population of mainly Third World countries.

Those worried about overpopulation and the depletion of resources should read these two pieces and then rationally decide if the Supreme-Being who is so comprehensively perfect about the numbers and time wouldn’t know what is He doing?

Many Muslim often wonder whySaudi Arabia, with all the wealth in the world, has done almost nothing for the poverty alleviation or stopping the mass conversion of African Muslims to Christianity? (6 million every year) It obediently followed the dictates of its western Masters to stem the overpopulation of the world.

They were diametrically different personalities. Gandhi, at the lowest rung on the ladder, cheap shot. Muhammad Ali Jinnah a studious strictly forthright on the highest rung.

Gandhi, a sexual pervert, politically manipulative evil person praying on the ignorance and simplicity of his own people while sexually abusing/exploiting her young NIECE,VS. an upright Quide-Azam-Mohammad Ali Jinnah; a man of brown skin laced with English mannerism; who embarked on Creating the second only country—Pakistan–In the name of Islam after Medina.

They were diametrically different personalities. Gandhi, at the lowest rung on the ladder, cheap shot. Muhammad Ali Jinnah a studious strictly forthright on the highest rung.

Gandhi in his ensuing years, as a teenager, rebelled, by smoking, eating meat and stealing change from household servants.

Quran, A divine manifestation, confirmed by # 19

[They say]; “This {Qura’an} is not but the words of a human being” (Q,74:25)

“over it,are19 {Angels}” (Q,74:30)

“And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve – that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is hypocrisy and the disbelievers will say, “What does Allah intend by this as an example?” Thus, Allah leaves astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And the mention of the Fire is not but a reminder to humanity” (Q,74:31)

Researches done by Dr. Rashad Khalifa & Some others leave no doubt about the Holy Qura’an being the word of Allah Almighty

“When the “word/decree” is revealed to them, We will bring out a “creaturefrom the earth”* that will speak to them. Indeed, (these are) the people (who) do not believe in our signs”. (Q,27:82)

* {computer produced out of earthly material}

The mirror image of this verse–27:82, 72:28–-confirms that Allah (is a mathematician) has counted all things in numbers.

“That He may know that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord; He has complete awareness of whatever is with them, having taken stock of all things in number” (Q, 72:28)

In the verse, 82, it is said that at the right time, God will produce a creature that will be instrumental in unveiling God’s signs. This promise has been fulfilled. The creature is the computer which became instrumental in unveiling the Quran’s numerical code (19), to the people who did not believe in Allah’s signs [message].

The sum of the digits that make up 27:82 (2 +7 +8 + 2) = 19.

The prefix of all the Surahs, “Bismillah” (In the name of the most merciful…), with the exception of Surah number 9, consists of 19 letters.

Surah number 27: the 19th from the 9th, however: contains “Bismillah” twice, to equal the total number of surahs (114) in the Holy Qura’an. (a multiple of 19×6=114).

From Surah 9 to 27; by adding their assigned numbers would total 342, which is a multiple of 19×18. The total number of words used in between surah 9 and 27 (from missing “Bismillah” to the second “Bismillah” in verse 27) is also 342.

The word “Allah” is mentioned 19×142=2698 times.

The word “Allah” is mentioned in 19×6421=121,999 surah/verses.

The word “Rahman” is mentioned 19×3=57 times.

The word “Raheem” is mentioned 19×6=114 times.

The total number of surahs in Qura’an is, 19×6=114.

The very first Surah revealed to the prophet (PBUH) is the 19th Surah, (counting backward from Surah 114) having 19 verses and 19 words in the first verse, while the total number of letters in the Surah is 19×4=76. The total number of words in this Surah is the multiple of 19×15=285. (Surah 96, “blood-clot”, read; in the name of your Lord…).

The total Number of verses in the Qura’an is 19×334=6346.

There are 5263 verses between surah number 2 (the first set of disjunct letters) and Surah number 68 (with the last disjunct letter), a multiple of 19×277.The word “Allah” mentioned in between these Surahs is a multiple of 19×139=2641 times. Whereas outside of this portion it is mentioned 57 times, a multiple of 19×3. In this portion, there are 38 Surahs, which are without any disjunct word or set of words. (19×2).

When the number assigned to the surah outside of Surah number 2 to Surah number 68 is added, it results in a multiple of 19×128=2432.

It proves that such the miraculous assignment of numbers to these Surahs and verses cannot be the work of a human being but that of Allah (SWT).

The word “Al-Qura’an” is mentioned in the Holy Qura’an 19×3=57 times. When the assigned numbers of Surahs and verses, where the word “Al-Qura’an” appears are added, the total comes to 19×140=2660.

When all the assigned numbers of Surahs and verses; where the variations of the word “Qura’an” such as “Qura’anan” and “Qura’anahu” appear; are added, their total comes to 19×177=3363.

The concept of monotheism “Allah-u-Wahid” (unicity of God), the first pillar of Islam, is mentioned in the Holy Qura’an, 19 times.

The word “Wahdahu” meaning “obey the God alone” is mentioned 5 times. When the numbers assigned to these Surahs and verses are added, comes to a multiple of 19×19=361.

Other 4 pillars of Islam;“salat” (prayer), “Zakat” (Charity), “Hajj” (pilgrimage to Mecca) and “Siyam” (Fasting in the month of Ramadhan) mentioned, comes to a multiple of 19×6=114.

Word “Salat” is mentioned 67 times and while the assigned numbers of the Surahs and verses added together comes to a multiple of 19×246=4674.

When the numbers assigned to the Surah and verses; where the Word “Zakat” & “Hajj” are mentioned added, comes to a multiple of 19x19x8=2888.

Word “Siyam” appears 6 times and when the numbers assigned to the Surah and verses added together comes to a multiple of 19×37=1387

In Surah number 50 named “Qaaf”, also starting with the discrete letter “Qaaf”, {denoting the word “Qura’an”} the letter is used 19×3=57 times. So, it is used in the only other Surah # 42 starting with the same discrete letter “Qaaf”, 19×3=57 times. The grand total of both of these Surahs comes to (57+57) =114; which equals the total # of Surahs in Qura’an. Yet another fascinating fact about these two Surahs is that the sum total of assigned numbers to both the Surah’s and #s assigned to the verses (50+45=95 & 42+53= 95), comes to a multiple of 19×5. The numerical value of the word ”المجيد“ (Majeed) appearing in Surah number 50, is a multiple of 19×3 (m=40, j=3, e=10 {only once in Arabic} & d=4) = 57.

In Surah number 68, starting with the disjunct letter “N”, it appears in the Surah, as a multiple of 19×7=,133.

In Qura’an there are 3 surahs (7, 19, 38) starting with the discrete letter (saad). The total # of times this letter appears in these Surahs is a multiple of 19×8=152.

In Surah number 36 there are two discrete letters {ya & seen}. It appears in this surah as a multiple of 19×15=285.

There are 7 consecutive Surahs (40,41,42,43,44,45 &46) with disjunct letters (ha, meem) which is the multiple of 19×113=2147.

In Surah 42 there are two sets of disjunct letters [ha, meem &ain, seen, qaaf}. The total number of times the second set of 3-letters appears in this surah is, as a multiple of 19×11=, 209.

The Surah number 19 has the biggest set of discrete letters {ka, ha,ya, ain & saad} and only the letter [saad] appears in this Surah 19×8=152 times; whereas in all 3 Surahs [7, 19 & 38], these disjunct letters appear 19×42=798 times.

There are 6 Surahs {2, 3, 29, 30, 31, &32} with the discrete set of letters [alif, lam & meem], which appear in all Surahs as a multiple of 19. Surah number 2 is a multiple of 19x 521=9899 times. Surah number 3 contains 19×298=5662 times, Surah number 29 contains 19×88=1672 times, Surah number 30 contains 19×66=1254 times, Surah number 31 contains 19×43=817 times, Surah number 32 contains 19×33=627.

There are 5 Surahs with the disjunct set of letters [alif, lam & raa}, which appear in all the Surahs as a multiple of 19. Surah number 10 is a multiple of, 19×131=2489. Surah number 11 is a multiple of, 19×131=2489. Surah number 12 is a multiple of, 19×125=2375. Surah number 14 is a multiple of, 19×63=1197 and Surah number 15 is a multiple of, 19×48=912.

Surah number 13 has a set of 4 disjunct letters [alif, lam, meem & raa] consisting of a multiple of 19×78=1482.

There are 5 Surahs [19, 20, 26, 27, 28 with a set of discrete letters [ha, ta-ha, ta-seen–meem, ta-seen, ta-seen-meem,] these are a multiple of19x93=1767.

Surah number 7 consists of a discrete set of 4 letters [alif, lam,meem & saad] in the multiple of 19×280=5320.

1+6+12=19

Center# 1 Allah (SWT).

1st circle—1 to 6 around Allah; the creation of the universe in 6 days. (creation of space). (Q,11:7)

2nd circle—1 to 12 around the creation of space is 12 months of the year. (Creation of time). (Q, 9:36)

It is also the code of creation. A hive of the Honey-bee, Ice-molecule, Water molecule and DNA/RNA molecule—all are in hexagonal shape.

“We know that you, [Muhammad], are saddened by what they say. And indeed, they do not call you untruthful, but it is the SIGNS of Allah that the wrongdoers reject” (Q, 6:33)

120 degree–is also the angle, of the hexagonal blocks, used in the construction of the fundamental structure of the universe, represented by the number 19. {The greatest mathematical key in the Holy Qura’an}

The Surah 27 named “An-Naml” (Ant) has two discrete letters (taseen). The first letter is mentioned in the verses of the Surah 27 times, which is the assigned number of the Surah. The second letter appears 93 times which the number of verses in this Surah. By adding these two we get to number 120, which is the numerical value of the Arabic word “N.m.l” for Ant. [N=50, +M=40, +L=30=120].

The 1stdisjunct letter “ta” is the 16th letter in Hija’i alphabetical order. It appears in 16 verses and the total of numbers assigned comes to 16×40=640. Here the verse number 16 is the shortest verse (number 2) of this chapter, containing only 16 letters while verse number 40 is the longest verse of this chaptercontaining 114 letters.

By adding the letters in verse 40 and 16 total comes to 152=114+38. It represents the total number of the Surah in the Qura’an and the words in verse 40 of this chapter.

The 2nd letter “Seen” appears two times in 16 verses and the total of the number assigned to these verses comes to 636=12×53. Number 12 is the alphabetical order of the letter “seen” while 53 is a prime number with its order in prime numbers of 16, is the total number of verses.

The word “Allah” is mentioned in this verse 27 times. The verse number 26 starting with the word “Allah” consists of exactly 27 letters. Still, the tantalizing fact is that verse 27 does not use a letter “wow” (W, in English), which is the 27th letter in Hija’i alphabetic order. It appears ONCE in 15 verse. It appears TWICE in 15 verses. It appears THRICE in 15 verses. It appears 4-TIMES in 15 verses. And it appears 5-TIMES in 15 verses.

Qura’an was descended on the night of 27th of Ramadan(night of decree). Which is of a great significance. Checking the factual link between the two Surahs; it is revealed that the verses containing Arabic letter “WOW” twice total 729=, a multiple of 27×27.

Number “5” immediately reminds one of 5 daily mandatory prayers and 5 pillars of Islam. When investigated the verses containing Arabic letter “WOW” 5 times, their total comes to 773. It is the 137th prime number, which itself is the 33rd prime number. It represents the total number of verses in this chapter, which start with the letter “WOW”.

By multiplying 15×15=225; which is the total number of times letter “wow” appears in all 5 groups of verses. By multiplying 15×5=75; which is the total number of verses in these five groups. The 15th verse in this chapter consists of 15 words as well.

Surah 97—The night of decree (POWER).

The word ‘Laila-tul–qadar“ consisting of three words (or 9 letters) appearing thrice in this surah; 3×3+3×3+3×3=27. The first word of this Surah “inna” has a numerical value of 27. The words “Lailah” from the start and “hiyah” from the end (backward) are both the 27th words. “hiyah” has a numerical value of 54, which is the total of both the letters; 26 & 28 and when it is divided by 2 results in 27. From this word “hiyah” till the end of the Qura’an the total number of words is 486; which is a multiple of 27×18. Number 18 being the total # of letters of the last (5th) verse. Instead of adding, 27+27=54 if we multiply, the result is, 27×27=729. The 60th verse of Surah Al-Maida number 5 contains 27 words. In this Surah name of “Allah” is mentioned 44 times; which is the number of the only Surah where “night of decree” is mentioned. The total number of letters in both the surah—44 & 97 is 115. The 27th letter in the “Hija’i” alphabetical order “WOW” appears in verse 44, 115 times. The word “Al-Quran” appears in both the verses 59 times; which is the total number of words in these Surahs (29+30).

Conclusion; the word “Al-Qadar” (Night of decree) has a numerical value of 63; which is the age of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) on whom the Holy Qura’an was revealed on the 27th of Ramadan.

Lunar & Solar Calendar in Qura’an

“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth…” (Q, 9:36)

The word “shar” (a month in singular form) appears 12 times in the whole Qura’an. Whereas “Yum” (day) appears 365 times. (exact number of days in a year). Plural form of days “Ayyam” is mentioned 27 times which is the time taken by the moon to complete its orbital circulation. The word “Qamar” (moon) is also mentioned 27 times.

Qura’an also mentions it “ONCE” by the name “Crescent”; representing the fraction of the moon, to accommodate the exact scientific calculation of 27.3 days.

The word “year” is mentioned in Qura’an in singular form 7 times and in plural form 12 times; which is the total number of years (19) taken by the new-full-moon to fall on the same day of the year, called “Metonic-Cycle”. [it is 19 years lunar-cycle to reach the relatively exact location where the moon, the earth and sun were at the start of the journey] Here the number 19 could be taken as referring to the building block of the universe (in hexagonal form) or to the very subtle bifurcation of the 7 leap years and 12 common years.

Surah “Al-Kahaf” # 18 [7-sleepers of the Ephesus]

This Surah narrates the story of the 7-men escaped to cave in 18 consecutive verses and specifically in verse 18 of the chapter. The Surah says; “they stayed there for 300 years and then it says “add nine”; which means, counting by solar calendar would be 300-years, (e.g. by Muslims) whereas counting by the lunar calendar would be 309-years.

Surah “Al-Fatiha” # 1

Group of 1st, 2nd & 3rd-word group contains 31 letters each. The number of dots in each group also is 31. Three names of Allah are mentioned in 3 verses (twice) and the total number of letters also comes to 31. When investigated the 31st verse in the Qura’an; which is (2:24), it also contains 31 dots.

In this Surah, all the verses end with the word either “M” or “N” with their alphabetical order of 24th and 25th with a total numerical value of 49, which is multiple of 7×7. Number 7, like 27 & 114, is the main key of the mathematical manifestations of the Qura’an. The number of words ending with either “M” or “N” is exactly the same 7+7=14. This surah is described by Allah as an often-repeated set of 7-verses in 15:87 which also contains exactly 7 words. The letter “M” in this verse is mentioned 3 times and the letter “N” is mentioned 4 times. The number of dots used here is a multiple of 7×3=21; which again brings forth the significance of the number 7. Number 21 is the number of alphabets used in Surah 1 (out of total 29 alphabets).

The phrase “oft-repeated 7 verses” in Arabic carries a numerical value of 179 which is the total of 7 verses of the Surah 1+ number of words used in it 29+ number of letters used 143. (7+29+143=179) The key word in this phrase is 7 letter word “oft-repeated” and its numerical value comes to 114, the total number of surahs in Qura’an. If “Bismillah” is considered part of the Surah “Al-Fatiha” (as in the above example) along with other verses starting with letter “B” comes to 63, which is the age of the Prophet (PBUH). Surah “Al-Fatiha” with “Bismillah” would consist of 7 verses which are also the number of verses in surah “Al A’raf”.Both of these Surahs consist of 7 letter namesin Arabic. The numerical value of the Surah (7) “Al-A’raf” is also 114. (the total number of Surahs in Qura’an).

Surah “Ta-ha” #20

The letter “ta” in the Surah number 20-(Ta-ha) is exactly in the middle of the all 1273 letters “ta”. There are 636 “ta” before and 636 “ta” after the central “Golden-ta”.

Letter “ta” is repeated 4 times in 4 Surahs only. 4×4=16, Number 16 is the “Hija’i” alphabetical order of the letter “ta”. The fourth Surah in this group where the letter “ta” appears consecutively has exactly 16 words. When 16×4=64, which is the number of verses in this Surah (24). There are 4 more letters in this verse repeated 4 times and the total numerical value of them comes to 24, which is the number of this verse and also the number of times the letter “ta” has been repeated. When we look at the number position of the words containing the letter “ta” it is 5,6,7 & 8 the total whereof comes to 26, which is the number of this verse in this Surah.The word “Allah” consists of three letters (A. L.H) and their total numerical value comes to 26 as well, which is the number of this verse. This verse consists of total 99 letters, which corresponds with the 99names of Allah. {An amazing mathematical harmony}.

Surah Al–Alaq # 96 [endometrium]

“Al-Alaq” is the 9th word in this Surah; whereas the 9th prime number in the series of prime numbers is 23, which is exactly the number of pairs of chromosomes in a human DNA (DNA+RNA). Surprisingly the numerical value of the word“Adam” {the first man created}is 46, the total number of chromosomes in human DNA {23-deoxyribonucleic acid-DNA and 23–Ribonucleic acid-RNA- it carries info from DNA}is also 46.

“yalid” is the only word appearing once in the entire Qura’an in Surah Ikhlas. It is exactly in the middle of the Surah 7 words before and 7 words after it. 23 letters before and 23 letters after it. For human conception 46 number of chromosomes are required, therefore “Yalid” being placed in-between the two sets of 23 chromosomes represents the negation of conception/birth. (Allah did not give birth).

Surah Al-Alaq # 96 has 18 Surahs after it. Its first verse (the only in entire Qura’an) consists of 18 letters. It also starts with the first Arabic letter “Alif” and it appears in this verse 61 times; which is a prime number of the 18th place in the order. The word “ihdina” appears only twice in the entire Qura’an in surah # 1:6 and surah # 38:22. Letter “Alif” has a numerical value of 23 which represents the number of chromosomes in human DNA. Letter “Alif” is also the beginning and end of the word “Ihadina” with 5 letters with the numerical values [23,7,5,3,23]. These represent the {23, DNA/human being to be guided}, 7 stages of human development in the womb, 5 senses/5 obligatory prayers/5 pillars of Islam, 3 dark layers of the womb and 23, RNA.

Amazingly all the Surahs with 5 verses have 99 letters the number of names of Allah (SWT).

The last surah revealed, VICTORY number 110, also has 19 words. So, the first Surah revealed, BLOOD-CLOT number 96, and the last Surah revealed, both, consist of 19 words.

This miraculous exposure of the Holy Qura’an is continuing but succumbing to the brevity of human endurance I will end it here with the hope that;

1)it will be enough to convince any rational being that it is not an ordinary book composed by a humanbeing but aDivine-Revelation.

2) why the challenge to produce even a part of the Qura’an has remained “UNMET”.

3) it will keep revealing its miracles/wisdom until the end of the time.

4) it is free from any defect/deficiency/mistake, as often wishfully hoped, by the antagonists’ of Islam.

Al-Jahm bin Safwaan,(reportedly adeviant {mulhid}Muslim scholar of 7th Century).Kurt Godel (of 1906—1978)—A theist in the Christian traditions, believing in the afterlife, and God being personal, saying: “If the world is rationally constructed and has meaning, then there must be such a thing [as an afterlife].” He also said: “I like Islam: it is a consistent [or consequential] idea of religion and open-minded”

Worth Noticing is the conceptual proximity of two people; poles apart in times and ideological persuasions!

Stated that whatever we see around are, either bodies and their attributes or just the attributes. And their attributes (like colors, dimensions, tastes, smells and so on, whatever is perceived by the senses) cannot exist on their own, they have to exist in bodies. Because they need bodies to exist, then all these attributes must be originated. But, since bodies are never free of theses originated attributes (which can never exist on their own), then the bodies too must be originated. This now is a proof against those atheist Philosophers that the universe is originated and whatever is originated must have an originator, creator.

Source. The Terminology of the Jahmiyyah.

Without mathematics we cannot penetrate deeply into philosophy, without philosophy we cannot penetrate deeply into the mathematics. Without both, we cannot penetrate deeply into anything. Math is the language God wrote the universe in. (Leibniz).

Holy Qura’an is predominantly woven around specific numbers such as 19, 7, 27, 114 and some others –Investigated by Dr. Rashad Khalifa and some others.(Number 19, being the mathematical key of the Qura’an and sign of building block of the universe).

Source. Kur Godel’s Incompleteness theorem.

Science originally came from the idea that God made an orderly universe which obeys fixed, discoverable laws. Therefore, nearly all scientific laws are based on inductive reasoning based on fixed and discoverable laws. In order to construct a rational, scientific model of the universe, belief in God is not just logical but 100% necessary. For science can never fill its own gaps, [Anything, one can draw a circle around, cannot explain itself without referring to something outside the circle—something assumed but not provable] one has no choice but to look outside of science for answers. Most people do not know that outside the science circle is a philosophy circle. Science is based on philosophical assumptions which cannot be proven scientifically-but inferred.

Bounteous balkanization of“Turkey”, Lausanne 1923, Yet, it is coming back in a big way.

After the first world war, victorious European allies hatched a conspiracy: in 1918, known as “Treaty of Sevres”, against Turkey truncating Anatolia; colonizing the territory, what is now Turkey, and by giving independence to non-Turkish nationalities under its dominion. It was opposed by the brave Turks; who fought back and defeated the conspirators, especially Greece in 1923-23. Lausanne treaty was the consequence of their defeat at the hands of Turks under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Lausanne II conference was held in 1923; which included Britain, France and Italy.Ismet Inonu represented Turkey. Turkey, as perpetrated by the western Imperial powers, was divided and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was made the first President of Secular-Turkey. {why Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, despite winning, accepted the short end of the stick is dubious}.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881-1938), as agreed under the first treaty of Lausanne 1923, founded Modern Secular Turkey making Ankara as the capital; abolishing the Caliphate and declaring it “Republic” instead. Conniving parties were; Ireland, France, Russia, Italy spearheaded by Britain. Under this treaty the Ottoman Empire (Caliphate) was abolished, the Caliph Osmanoğlu and his family exiled, their assets confiscated and Turkey was declared a secular state (expunging it of its Islamic Character), rights of oil exploration denied and the Strait of Bosporus declared international corridor (taking it out of Turkey’s dominion). Depriving Turkey of billions of dollars in revenue.

Turkey after the expiration of the treaty, most likely, would start oil exploration, and joins the list of oil-producing countries. It would also start collecting the fees from ships passing through the Bosporus Strait while digging a new channel linking the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

Lingering grievances.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s pro-Islam Justice and Development Party (AKP) claims that “opponents of Turkey” forced it to sign the “Treaty of Sevres” in 1920, and that of the “Treaty of Lausanne” in 1923, and also forced Turkey to abandon the islands in the Aegean Sea to Greece. Erdogan describes the Treaty of Sevres, as the first knife in the back of Ottoman Empire for it forced Turkey to concede vast tract of land under its domain. Turkey had to renounce sovereignty over Cyprus,Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq and the Levant, except cities which were located in Syria, such as Urfa, Adana and Gaziantep and Kells and Marsh. Ottoman Empire also had to relinquish its political and financial rights, in November 1914, over Egypt and Sudan.

Pro-Islam vs. Kemalist-Secularist

Erdogan’s critics tend to be more focused on the risks Turkey faces when Lausanne expires. Conspiracy-minded secularists have always worried that Erdogan is working with the European Union to establish an independent Kurdistan or perhaps dig a new Bosporus to secure American ships’ access to the Black Sea, or really doing anything else possible to undermine the sovereignty Ataturk secured for Turkey. They are also worried that the “New Republic of Turkey” of Erdogan would be Islamic in character not “Secular” {some of the dynamics have since changed or simply do not exist}

Erdogan’s supporters, by contrast, are more optimistic about Lausanne’s expiration, in part based on a strain of recent historical revisionism suggesting that Ataturk actually could have gotten a much better deal during the negotiations had he not been in league with the Europeans — not preserved the whole Ottoman Empire, necessarily, but at least held on to a bit more of Greek Thrace and maybe the oil fields of Mosul. Turkey, after 2023, will find justification for its intervention in Mosul, which had been part of Turkey (Ottoman Empire) over four centuries until the First World War. {As hinted earlier by this author, Mustafa Kemal would have not been made the first PM had he not been in league with the Europeans—the deal struck was simply a Quid pro quo}

Note: Following five historical figures of the Muslim world need to be researched and their role redefined for immensely damaging Islam, Muslim and Islamic-polity–Mohammad Abdu, Gamal Abdul Nasser, Syed Qutub, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.

The Treaty of Lausanne has no secret(explicit) expiration clause.

Observers wonder: “Is there a provision or legal precedence in International law that provides for the validity of International treaties for 100 years only?”, while “Germany canceled the treaty in the thirties 20 years after signing it”. Is it possible for Turkey to do the same after or before 100 years (in 2023) completed?

Here is, however, a parallel between the “Treaties of Lausanne II” and the “Treaty of Nanking,” whereby China ceded Hong Kong to Britain.End of Lausanne-treaty 2023 is linked with a coup attempt on Erdogan in mid-November – 2016, and with the battle of al-Raqqa and Mosul. The city of Mosul was ceded to the control of the Ottoman in 1534, during the reign of Suleiman al-Kuanoni, until the end of the First World War,

Turkish Professor, Mustafa Sidiqi Bilgin, a specialist in international relations wrote: When Turkey ceded Mosul to Iraq, it was with the condition that its borders or its status, at the time, would not change; which has, nevertheless, changed over the past decades.

Turkish Pro-Islam people, given Turkey’s legendary past and glory, have certainly inherited the nationalism; found among many secularists as well, are filled with the suspicion of Euro-American,Christian-Zionist invasion/plots to topple the Erdogan Government before 2023. As witnessed on 15th July 2016; which was, reportedly, thwarted due to Russian information-leak, to the Turkish administration. (What a coincidence! Lausanne, Switzerland, is a center of world Zionism?).

Many in the AKP’scamp now imagine that all Erdogan’s problems are caused by various international conspiracies seeking to block Turkey’s meteoric rise.

Declaration.

Turkey will shape the future of the entire region when it reaches its goals for 2023, the centennial anniversary of the Turkish Republic, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said this in August. 29 marking Turkey’s Victory Day, adding that Turkey is on the threshold of new victories and successes.

“As has been in every period of our history, we are today as well, putting up a struggle for all the oppressed and wronged who have pinned their hopes on us as well as for ourselves”.

Turkey will mark the 96th anniversary of the Victory Day when Turks claimed victory against occupying Greek forces during the country’s War of Independence.

Turkey’s ambitious Vision 2023 aims to put the country in the world’s top ten economies within the next five years by making dramatic improvements to its trade, energy, health care and transport sectors.

Inspired by its historical position on the Silk Road. the trading route, Turkey is in the midst of a transportation revolution; building a 21st-century infrastructure network, to boost the nation’s economy and Turkey’s meteoric rise.

One of the massive infrastructure projects worth $605b which is part of this vision is the Gebze-Orhangazi-Izmir Highway, which would reduce an eight-hour journey to that of three and a half hours. Such projects are being carried out all across the country, with the primary aim of shifting the congestion of trade and business from Istanbul and the narrow Marmara region further east towards Anatolia. They also reflect the government’s ambition to consolidate the country’s position as a regional transportation hub that connects Europe with Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

Turkey is set to achieve a GDP of $2.6 trillion, an average of $25,000 per capita income, and reducing the unemployment rate to just five percent. Turkey intends to make Istanbul one of the top international financial hubs to match the likes of London and Singapore.

In its bid to achieve these ambitions, large investments have been made in automotive, iron, steel and transportation industries. Foreign Direct Investment from Saudi Arabia has also been touted.

The 2023 vision includes a number of other major transport and infrastructure projects, including:

North Marmara Highway

This project is expected to serve the dual purpose of providing access to Istanbul New Airport, or Third Airport – currently under construction – and helping divert Europe-bound traffic past Istanbul and into southeastern Europe. A centerpiece of the project, the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, opened on August 26, 2016.It’s total cost $10.2b.

Euro–Asian Tunnel

Also known as the Istanbul Strait Road Tube Crossing, this promises to cut road travel times between Kazlicesme neighborhood on Istanbul’s European side and Goztepe on its Asian side from 100 minutes to 15 via a 5.4km tunnel. With a projected capacity of 120,000 vehicles per day.

Grand Istanbul Tunnel

A three-level megaproject. The 6.5km tunnel comprises two highway levels and one for commuter rail, connecting Istanbul’s Arnavutkoy district on the European side with Kucuksu on the Asian side. It is designed to accommodate up to 6.5 million passengers a day and reduce Istanbul’s greenhouse gas emissions by 110,000 tons a year. Its total projected costs $3.5b.

CanakkaleSuspension Bridge (GabzeOrhangazi-Izmir Highway)

With a center span exceeding 2,000m, this is the longest suspension bridge in the world. On the Sea of Marmara, some 200km west of Istanbul, it is the part of the 352km Canakkale-Tekirdag-Kinali-Balikesir Highway project, connecting the towns of Gelibolu and Lapseki. The project is to reduce Istanbul’s traffic congestion and improve road access to the Aegean Sea. It’s total cost $605b.

More than five centuries after a network of ancient trade routes collectively known as the Silk Road lost its purpose, the idea of it continues to grip popular imagination both in and around Turkey. In fact, a modern rail link connecting the eastern Turkish city of Kars with Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is commonly known as the ‘Iron Silk Road’. The rail link is projected to annually carry one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo at the start of operations, and three million passengers and 17 million tons of cargo by 2034.

However, the idea of rebuilding a land transportation route that would go all the way to China, particularly one centering on trucks, would be like “taking a taxi from Istanbul to Beijing”, said Timur Kaymaz of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV).

Regional Dominance.

Over the past century, particularly within the last decade, Turkey has risen to become a somewhat hegemonic power within the region, with Iran being its only rival in influence and Israel being its only rival in military might. Its proactive stance in the Syrian conflict – through its famed “Operation Euphrates Shield” and its current “Operation Olive Branch” – has enabled the country to again become a regional power to be reckoned with militarily, economically and diplomatically.

Turkey appears to be the big winner in the Middle East, capitalizing on its realignment with Russia and its allies China and Iran to improve its image in the Muslim world as a leading nation willing to stand up to Saudi Arabia. Erdogan’s ambitions to increase Turkey’s influence in the region and to lead the Muslim world, also make Saudi Arabia “less of an ally and more of a competitor.”

Turkey is exposing its fangs to the USA, Europe and Israel. Turkey is the first country to come to the help of Rohingya Muslims of Burma. (Iran also, joined the call).

Water-power.

Turkey holds a staggering 90 percent share of the Euphrates River and 45 percent share of the Tigris River, which both originate in the Anatolian mountains of eastern Turkey. With the control of the majority of the water that flows downstream through Syria and Iraq to the Arabian Gulf, Turkey holds overwhelming influence over the supply of water in the region. After Syria and Iraq complained about Turkey’s manipulation of the flow of water during a dam project in the nineties, Ozal famously remarked: “we don’t tell Arabs what to do with their oil, so we don’t accept any suggestion from them about what to do with our water.”

Turkey Pivoting towards Russia, China and Iran.

Alignments in the Middle East have long been shifting for decades; regional powers; particularly Iran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have competed to maximize power against the backdrop of interventions by Russia, the United Kingdom, and, later, the United States. Until recently, the United States and its regional allies—Israel, the majority of the Arab Gulf states, and Turkey—were aligned against Iran. In the aftermath of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, it seemed certain that these regional powers, backed by Washington, would succeed in isolating Iran. But myriad domestic, regional, and international factors have combined to obviate this long-standing status quo. The most significant result of these developments has been Turkey’s drift away from the United States and NATO toward Russia and its allies China and Iran.

There are hosts of reasons for this realignment.

The ascension of Pro-Islam (not Islamist) Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Turkish presidency in 2014, signaled a shift in the country’s politics pursuing more anti-Western policies befitting Turkey’s realignment.

Erdogan’s ambitions to increase Turkey’s influence in the region and to lead the Muslim world.

Relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia soured after Egypt’s president, Mohamad Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood was ousted by a military coup in 2013, Turkey supported Morsi, while Saudi Arabia and America backed, Gen. Fattah Al Sisi of the Egyptian military.

In 2017, when the Beduin-Pentagon (Qatar excluded at present) led by Saudi Arabia imposed a blockade on Qatar, Ankara backed Qatar, sending dairy and other food products to undermine the blockade.

Turkey’s and Saudi Arabia’s perspectives and interests regarding Syrian Civil war diverged, and the complexities of the conflict drew Turkey closer to Russia and its allies China and Iran. The United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia, however, remained united on the opposite side.

Russia, China, Iran nexus seems to be a better fit for Turkey than with NATO. Turkey is now busy stabilizing Syria, even if Bashar al-Assad remains the President of United-Syria.

Turkey sees the advancement of Kurdish forces in Syria as a greater threat to its national security as compared to the one posed by Islamic State (ISIS). Although, the same Kurdish forces form the backbone of a US-backed campaign against the ISIS in northeast Syria. ISIS, elsewhere in Syria, is being backed by the US against Syrian troops. https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2017/12/26/islamic-state-an-enemy/

Turkey and Iran both realize that the dismemberment of Syria; and Kurdish forces getting hold of an autonomous territory; would embolden their Kurdish populations (as evident in Iraq), thereby creating a threat to their territorial integrity and national unity.

In the morass of Middle East geopolitics and receding west, although, Russia and Iran got some edge Turkey appears to be the biggest winner. Capitalizing on this realignment, Turkey is set to improve its image in the Muslim world as a leading nation willing to stand up to the west and Saudi Arabia—whose more-closer relationship with Israel, dubious role in the Israel/Palestine conflict and leading role in the disastrous war in Yemen, have tarnished their reputations.

Turkey’s ostensible realignment has affected the U.S. role in Syria and the viability of Washington’s Middle East policy as a whole.

In response to this development, the United States has expressed its willingness to use its means and political capital to stabilize Syria rather than on Assad’s removal. Washington would be wise to rehash its overall Middle East policies; including the resolution of Palestine/Israel festering conflict based on the two-state premise, looking at the bigger picture to safeguard its interests in the region and the world at large.

There have been some misgivings over the intentions of Erdogan and the nature of his government – are they Islamists, neo-Ottoman fantasists with a dangerous nostalgia for the past and with an aim to occupy its former territories? While that view is an exaggerated one that plays into the hands of his opponents both within and outside Turkey – especially the European Union which vehemently opposes Turkey’s bid for membership.

One may consider Turkey and its President Erdogan in whatever way; the fact is that they are no-longer secular or Islamists, but pro-Islam.

Ambitious Turkey.

The national vision and goals that have been proclaimed in the wake of 2023 are those of 2053 and 2071, having particular significance. The former will mark 600 years since the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul and the latter, the thousandth anniversary of the decisive victory of the Seljuk Turks over the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Abhorred by the staunchly Kemalist-Secularist.

At a commemoration ceremony held in 2016, Erdogan stated that he rejects “an understanding of history that takes 1919 as the start of the 1,000-year history of our nation and civilization…Whoever leaves out our last 200 years, even 600 years together with its victories and defeats, and jumps directly from old Turkish history to the Republic, is an enemy of our nation and state.”

In British India, Hindu Identity was a thing to hide. For India’s oldest living people, being Hindu was once a hidden affair. As colonial subjects, Hindus learned to accept—or at least to not publicly contest—the basic premise of the British civilizing mission, which saw Indian culture and Hindu religion as vastly inferior to its European counterpart. For much of the colonial era, Hindus held their religion back from the public eye, submerging it in private rituals. Hinduism, after all, is a “myth”.

In the early 20th century, Gandhi was the first one, who tried to bring it to public life, posing it at par with Islam, in the context of botched Hindu-Muslim unity. The attempt, however, was quashed due to the staunch secularist (Nehruvian) doctrine of the First Indian P.M. Jawahar Lal Nehru.

For the next several decades, Nehruvian secularism dominated India’s intellectual life. Despite the vibrant practice of Hinduism in temples, daily life, and festivals, there was no appetite or courage shown by Hindus in public understanding of it.

Nehruvian “Idea of India” “An Imagined secular, pluralist polity that belongs to all Indians and not to any one group” (i.e.Hindu majority). India was created as pluralist opposed to Hindu majoritarian (particularistic) nationalism.

Indian secularism has gone down the drain due to the growing incidence of communal conflicts in various parts of India involving Hindu extremists; and particularly the occurrences of Godhra train burning and burning of thousands of Muslims alive in Gujrat; under the auspices of current P.M Modi,Hindu extremism has changed the Character of Indiaforever to that of a Hindu–terrorist–state.

Particularism of “Hindutva” transformed by RSS into violent extremism.

BJP a subsidiary of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for long has been calling on the Indian governments to recognize the special rights of the Hindu majority in a Hindu majority country.

Now with the advent of BJP’s rise to become India’s governing party, the idea of India is being redefined to mean a Hindu polity.Through acts of violence as well as words and laws, Hindu Extremists are pressing not whether the country’s political system should recognize Hindu identity, but the precise way in which it should be recognized.

This concept of Hindu majoritarianism or the pre-eminence of Hinduism has been in progress right from the time of Indira Gandhi down to Rajive, Vajpayee, Modi and is bound to perpetuate in more violence after the 2019 parliamentary elections, regardless of who wins or who loses. Muslims would, therefore, be naïve not to re-evaluate their position and prepare accordingly.

A Burst of Hindu extremism; the rise of a Hindu Government espousing extremism; is a reactionary/retaliatory expression against centuries-old repression, caused by sustained, enduring and taxing dynastic subjugation by the kings, dukes, Rajas. It permeated through and through in Hindu psyche as an inferioritycomplex. They are now revolting against it by way of extremism.

This is best expressed by Hyderabadis; where everyone claims to be the descendant of a Nizam; as if all the courtiers and the ordinary subjects just vanished into thin air, at the end of Asaf Jahi Dynasty!

In an Indian concocted zeitgeist, a diverse collection of Indians, are now looking for an identity to arm themselves like that of an Anglicized elite. It simply expresses an ingrained psychological, cultural and religious inferiority, making them fit the famous proverbial expression: ACrow pretended to walk like a stark but forgot even his own.

At one hand, an Indian woman would take pride in having an affair with a white man, acting like a white woman and awkwardly using western slangs to fit in. On the other hand, a Gujrati man would be, walking in the winter, wearing a sleeveless sweater, socks and muffler but flip-flop underneath OR donned with a three-piece suit in a party but jogging shoes underneath. Come on, Give me a break!

India to an extent, nevertheless, is the beneficiary of this psychologically inert state. Indian Muslims have been force-fed the goodness of botched “secular-India”, due to which;despite once having been considered to be the best Muslim, they vitiated their religion and took pride in being called Indian instead. Result; despite facing sustained and designed discrimination and humiliation; never mustered the courage to embark on a resistance or separatist movement, like many others in 22 of the Indian states.

As stated earlier, firstly, Hindu’s psychological holdbacks would never allow them, despite, supposedly, having attained the Hindu majoritarian Identity, to equate with their counterparts in the global setting. Secondly, it is highly unlikely, given the internal and external dynamics, that India would ever become an economic power as wishfully hyped. Thirdly, Muslim-India sure had glorious past but it was neither Hindu-India nor Hinduism. Fourthly, Hindu majoritarian identity, admittedly, would prove to be elusive and imaginary for the winners and communal for the losers; at best,unless the balkanization of coerced-Indian-Union takes place.

Equating Diwali with Christmas and Ramayana with Bible is albeit euphoric but delusional.

Recognition of pre-eminence of Hindu majoritarian Identity, given the Punjab and Kashmir almost slipped out of Indian control, would simply spur the process of India’s balkanization. Many-other-among-the-equals would not allow the usurpation of their ancestral and birthrights to their land/country and assignment of it to Hindu-majority. They are already up in arms against the covert privileged Hinduism; the status being sought by Hindu extremist through the “citizenship amendment bill”, currently under consideration in the parliament. Passing it would justify forced conversion of non-Hindus—especially the Muslims to Hinduism. Hindu extremists’ rhetoric (foisted by RSS, BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Hindutva) has transformed into violent-activism. Godhra train burning and Burning-Muslims alive in Gujrat; under the auspices of Narendra Modi (P.M); and many subsequent lynching of Muslims and other minorities, all over India are barbaric examples of it.

The proponents of the Hindu majoritarianism ought to bear in mind that Hinduism does not brace a prospering future. Because, after all, it is a mythology carved out of monotheistic persuasion. Vouchsafed in Puranas and Vedas. Hence “GharWapsi” (back to home) should be taken seriously by the Hindu majority, not by the Muslim and other minorities. Younger, educated generation, all across the world, is drifting away from the mythologies, philosophies and even interpolated (and abrogated) divine religions due to their human-adduced illogical and un-appealing contents.

Muslims are often ridiculed, by the non-believers, of believing in an imaginary God. This clip is enough to prove that it is not only the rational beings but also the ones considered otherwise do instinctively believe in that Imaginary Sustain-er…God Almighty.

Note:-(if it is not the bird chick taking a plunge, press repeat sign to witness the spectacle)

Awliya-Allah (bondmen of God) who, understand the intricacies of the spiritual maze, have done this by virtue of being Arifeen (Knowers of Allah). They also understand that the revelation of esoteric knowledge is through the heart. A heart cleansed of malice and hypocrisy to receive the divine knowledge. (Knowledge sanctioned and inspired by Allah).

Note: Awliya-Allah are far superior in status and station than the scholars.

Meaning: People spend all their life in reading and writing (like a bookworm/ عثة الكتب) but alas! (All their efforts go in vain as) they fail to gain Union with Allah; which ought to be the actual objective of a real scholar. Real knowledge is that which prevents one from self-conceit, lust and is inspired by Allah. Whosoever has not got the knowledge from the divine; is surely a seeker of the world; intending to be called/known as a scholar, is a sinner. To gain the real knowledge one has to first of all sacrifice the four birds (shades) of Nafs i.e. cock of lust, the crow of greed, the peacock of fake beauty and the pigeon of the desires. The lowest level of Nafs is Nafs-e-Ammara i.e. the ill commanding Nafs, the second level is Nafs-e-Lawama i.e. the Nafs which repents after committing sin, A better level is Nafs-e-Mulhima which prevents from sin by inspiration and the best level is Nafs-e-Mutmaina i.e. the satisfied self which is never inclined towards sins.

An Aalim bil Iktiasb (Islamic-Bookworm) [I would refrain from using the term Aalim-e-Soo] operates without the auspices and inspiration of the divine and presents the argument/reason/logic to confound his audience at the time/occasion. An Aalim bil Haq, on the other hand, is constantly inspired and guided by the divine; hence enlightens his audience with the argument/reason of universal nature; valid for all times/occasions, without falling victim to self-contradiction. [An Aalim bil Iktisab is also known as“scripturalist”somewhat, but not exactly, similar toPervaizis/Qura’anist]

An Aalim who eschews from the spiritual aspect of Islam deprives himself of the blessed title of an Aalim Bil Haq. The reason is that the essence of human being “Indestructible Soul/Spirit” emanates from the Aalme-Amr of Allah (SWT). Spirituality, therefore, becomes an inevitable threshold to the esoteric dimension of the Divine Knowledge, which obviously demands pondering over and contemplation about the creations (ayat/signs) of Allah. It has been repeatedly elicited in the Holy Qura’an by posing questions, such as; “Don’t you contemplate?”, “Don’t you ponder over?”, “Don’t you observe?”& “Don’t you have intellect?”, hence becomes imperative of human essence/nature and cannot be ignored.

When closely scrutinized, one would notice that the Muslim scientists of the old used to be Awliya, first and peripheral scientist of any other discipline later. Most of their knowledge was inspired rather than acquired (eruditional, as is today). They did not have access to highly sophisticated laboratories and scientific gadgets like today.

Knowledge (of religion) is exoterically related to prayers and levels*, *(level of veracity by blessing them [the seekers] with the knowledge of verification (4:69). This is the level about which it is said: Perseverance is better than miracles).

while esoterically it is related to:

1) The inspired knowledge.

2) The knowledge which directly comes from the Divine.

3) The knowledge gained through the undoubted Book of

Allah-The Quran, when (its hidden meanings are) revealed.

These three kinds (of esoteric knowledge) can be sought through the ways of contemplation given hereinbelow. Their practice would show the spectacle of both the worlds.

“Tasawur-e-Tareeq” (Contemplation of the Divine Way),

“Tasawur-e-Taufeeq” (Contemplation of the Divine favor),

“Tasawur-e-Tehqeeq” (Contemplation of the Divine Verification) and “Tasawur-e-Dariya-e-Ameeq” (Contemplation of The Deepest Ocean of Divinity).

Prophet (PBUH), before being endowed with prophet-hood, for such contemplation often used to seek solitude in the cave of “Hira”. It, therefore, becomes imperative; for him being an unlettered person; that he would have no other preoccupation there for days, but busy pondering and contemplating.

Allah (SWT) has also advised spending time worshiping/contemplating in the last/later parts of the night for it is suitable for coherence/concentration. According to a hadith Allah descends to the first Heaven to grace the invocations, plights of late night worshipers.

“Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and the tongue] and more suitable for words” (Q, 73:6)

“[He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of [your] affairs” (Q, 73:9)

“Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take to his Lord a way” (Q, 73:19)

A hadith gives the prescription for recognizing a real scholar (Aalim-bil-Haq) as follow;

The one meeting him would remind you of Allah and also makes you eager to meet him again.

Firstly, while choosing a religious scholar/sheikh to follow, one should ensure that the deeds and words of such a Scholar/Guide are in accordance with the Sharia’ah.

Secondly, he should have complete knowledge of exegesis of the

Qura’an and Hadith i.e. he should know; what is annulled and what is not, which orders of the Qura’an must be practiced and which not. He should have the insight to differentiate the importance of one order of the Qura’an from the other, because, though it is essential to believe in the whole of the Book of Allah it is not obligatory to act upon every word of it. Some orders are obligatory, some are desirable but not obligatory and some are allowed but not desirable.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

One should not pick and choose a verse to present/form his (skewed) point of view instead of a collective outcome, of all the verses on the topic. Such a deduction then should be the guiding and binding. (Q, 2: 85 & 4: 150)

Sources used for this piece, apart from Qura’an, Hadith, Sunnah and Islamic literature is, Sultan Bahoo’s “Kashf ul Asrar”{excerpts/concepts improvised for clarity and ease of comprehension}

(I seek, Allah’s forgiveness and refuge, for any inadvertent misrepresentation or misstatement made)

SAVE—-ROHINGYA, UGHER, PALESTINIAN AND KASHMIRI MUSLIM FROM STATE-SPONSORED GENOCIDE. RECLAIM—AFRICA— A MUSLIM CONTINENT. (Use and share this slogan as often as possible)

I intended to write this piece in a secular fashion but the overwhelming relevance of the Divine wisdom kept piercing through my thought canvas, hence surrendered making it part of the discourse. Human discourse or argumentation, anyway, barely scratches the obvious externalities of the issues while the Divine wisdom put forth the internally woven realities in a succinct yet aptly simple manner. One may notice the examples of such Subtleties in the course of reading this treatise.

Had Common sense, reason and logic been potent enough to reach the absolute certainty of the conclusions drawn, there would have been no need for the Divine religions to barge in. All of these tools are perceptual or experiential outcomes of human endeavors which; given the deficient nature of human faculties; are incapable of coming even remotely close to the level of Divine Wisdom; Revelation, the only fait accompli. (A subtle hint/deduced from Q, 17; 37) Hence some of the precepts of the religion are above and beyond the realm of human commonsense, causality, reason and logic, exuding perfect certitude and submission. (A state of affairs enormously repugnant and conceptually unacceptable to the secularists, anti-religionists and non-believers)

Note:- similar debate has been going on for long. a brief excerpt is quoted here.

[The innovative Jahmiyyah and Their Relatives from Ahl al-Kalaam Asharis and Maturidis fought the greatest battle and contention between the followers of the revealed Books and the sent Messengers and between the followers of the Hellenized Jews, Christians and Sabeans. Those who contradict the revealed texts with their reason (aql), and think the reason is definitive over the revealed texts].

Common sense is really not as common as perceived. Variegated sense perceptions render it somewhat-common, partially-common, quasi-common or purely individualistic rather than really-common in the true sense of the word.

Reason and Logic are even more disparate; propitious-reason and logic; sometimes referred to as rationality; are used to justify a conclusion, one is at home with. (Rational bias) A slightest dissension or differentiation would entail disapproval or divergence. Therefore, all these tools may create some sort of near or quasi-convergence but not an absolute or conclusive one. Logic is derived from the Greek word “logos”. In Muslim Philosophy another Grecian alternative “monads”*1 is used instead, to justify a position/stance by distinguishing a good reason from the bad one. It is only the Divine revelation (wisdom, word) which is flawless, absolute and ultimate-truth; authoritative in its perception, understanding and validity…worthy of even blind-Faith.

Kurt Gödel puts it succinctly as follow:-

The logical axioms that underlie everyday things like arithmetic depend on us accepting as reasonable the notion that infinity comes in several different sizes.

In Islamic parlance, however “pristine-reason” (Haq al Yaqeen); in the absence of a human messenger; is considered to be potent enough for a rational being to come; at least, to the cognition of the existence and oneness of God, hence obviating disbelief. “Pristine-reason” here, is “elevated to the status of a “non-human-messenger” of God, for reason gains an edge when the logic fails rational being. (Deduced from Q, 17: 15)

Contemplative tools; human faculties, given the amiss, may help us reach the level of most probable/likely certainty (in the temporal, ancillary and ritualistic matters) but not that of an absolute certitude (in the core matters of belief/faith); which is only possible by Divine consent/intervention through the heart (Q, 10:100), as in the above case of cognition of God’s Oneness. Here the externality of this intervention cloaked in the garb of; “pristine-human-reason”, is upgraded to the status of “non-human-messenger”

Non-believer’s obstinate rejection of the Divine, religious injunctions and that of hereafter; though based on (tenuous and vitiated) reason, logic and common sense, amply explains their state of affairs. (Q, 10:100)

Imam Ghazali;- “With regard to sense-perception says; it made him very hesitant to accept the infallibility of reason. He believed in the testimony of sense till it was contradicted by the verdict of reason. Well, perhaps there is above reason another judge who; if appeared, would convict reason of falsity and if such a third arbiter is not yet apparent it does not follow that he does not exist.”

When Imam Ghazali could not reconcile the philosophical dispensations with the Divine wisdom, (Obviously there is no comparison between the two; one represents the mundaneness, while the other, word of the Divine) he turned to Sufism.

In quantum physics (Double-Slit) experiment, our act of observing something seems to change what’s observed – we are ourselves part of the experiment. Is this the ultimate problem of self-reference, one that suggests a limit to how much we can ever reason about—our surroundings—the universe?

Role of the religion, therefore, becomes inevitable; for it presents us with flawless and absolute truth; which is perceptually-authoritative and practically valid, engendering “Taqwa”. [Innate reverential-fear (Awe) of Allah (SWT). Distinct from the usual fear of other (agencies)]

An incisive consideration and pondering, on just two of the aspects of the divine religion: 1) Belief in the hereafter. 2) The contentment would vouch for and warrant religion’s inevitability.

Belief in the hereafter is often considered a conceptual absurdity and theological fallacy hence rejected by the non-believers. Belief in the hereafter, however, is the source of immitigable hope and equity, which no atheistic belief/doctrine/philosophy may even, conceives to offer. Unbelief in the hereafter renders one scuttled of many realities. Such as; ultimate-reality; ultimate-hope; ultimate-triumph, and ultimate-Justice. One, without the belief in the hereafter, is like, latching onto the event-horizon of a black hole of hopelessness and despair. The statistics, available on depression/hopelessness resulting in suicide and homicide, is a vindication of this fact. Conversely, in the overwhelmingly religious affluent Middle East, there are hardly any such issues, hence NO mental hospitals needed.

Contentment is a huge blessing for a rational being. When someone (even a non-believer) is suffering; no relief in sight; distressed/desperate, resorts back to God, is blessed with His mercy. (Q, 27:62) Overwhelmed with gratitude, he takes a sigh of relief and the most joyous sense of contentment sets in. (One’s resorting back to God while distressed, means un-recalcitrant-submission; invigorating the innate impulses; meeting the pre-requisites; of belief in Him, His injunctions, including the belief in the hereafter).

“Is He [not best] who responds to the distressed/desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth?” (Q, 27:62)

“Deprived is the one who has been deprived of the reward of enduring distress” (Khidr–a.s) Fasting in the month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk is a fine practical example of it; whereby one is patientlycontent (nafs-al-mutmai’nna) all day long, hoping the accrual of the temporal and divinely rewards at the end of the day.

Faculties of thinking and the exercise of Free-will (choice) are also signs of deficiency on the part of the creation. Allah does not think but intends; for He is omnipotent; causer of both, the cause and the effect. Nothing wrong/bad may emanate from His essence (Q, 48:23); but from His schematic creational activities, such as the creation of rational beings inseminated with good and bad. “Indeed, Our word to a thing when We intend it is but that We say to it, “Be,” and it is” (Q, 16:40) On the other hand; when rational beings would exercise the option of intention; in the similar fashion; (without thinking and deliberations) it is bound to be fraught with pitfalls, for rational beings are created with an existential amiss.

Imagination is of non-local (metaphysical/spiritual) origin; for it traverses both, the local and non-local domain. Therefore, those who accuse believers of worshipping an “imaginary God” are, unwittingly, admitting this reality. God inculcated, in the constitution of the rational beings, two-pronged sense of imagination (topical and non-topical); a schematic molding, hence the relevance and necessity of Divine and Divine religion becomes inevitable. God does not think but “Wills” whereas man’s will (choice) subsists in God’s will whereby He equilibrates it with the elements of hope and fear,(existential amiss) rendering it rationally operative. (Q, 17:57)

People need religion because it is the blueprint for the functioning of the “Soul” in the temporal realm. Voltaire, an archpriest of rationalism, alludes to this inevitability in a mundanely best possible way: “Man would have to invent God, even if He does not exist”

Religious Truth is multifaceted. It is comprised of science, logic, philosophy, history, ethics, and experience all mixed together. It is, in a sense, a different kind of knowing, not ignorant of the other kinds of truths (known and yet to be known), asserting the inevitability of the religion.

(Hadith)Every child is born on Nature— (his natural disposition/course. Resorting back to/linking with the Creator)

“It is asserted here that fitrah is the essential condition and state of existence in which God fashioned mankind; with innate impulses/urges including the sense of good and bad; fear and safety; pain and relief; cognition of God; submission, transgression and arrogance etc. (existentialamiss–Imperfection, tendency/choice to swerve). It is present in the very essence of the creation and is inextricably kneaded into the very substance of the “rational beings” (Q) which is acutely elicited in the following verse.

“We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it;- He was indeed ignorant and foolish”(Q, 33:72)

Ordinary beings, given their basic knowledge of the religious fundamentals, are tested for their weaknesses (existential amiss). The window of forgiveness is wide open for them; even if they have a mountain of mistakes/sins on their back; as long as they keep seeking forgiveness with utmost sincerity and a commitment not to repeat the same. (There is no numerical or time limitation) This is an esoteric expression of the unbounded mercy of the Creator; for the people of knowledge and intellect who understand.

Men of knowledge (Aalim/Scholar), given the higher degree of knowledge, are tested for the equitable dissemination of the knowledge while acting upon it themselves as is due. Their test becomes harder and their failure attracts equally harsher punishment, for they are given the knowledge as the inheritors of the Prophet (PBUH).

Prophets; given the highest degree of knowledge and the duty of disseminating the message entrusted to them, often face the hardest of the tests for their perseverance, firmness, devotion and endurance instead. They are immunized of the mundanity (existential amiss) to a large extent due to their highest station/status. (Protected from major sins—Asmah/Masoom); which keeps them even from minor sins but some rare slips. (Q, 4:31)

“If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance [into Paradise]” [Q, 4:31]

Hadith: when a companion asked the Prophet, despite being a Prophet of Allah why do you always keep asking for His forgiveness? He replied; “for any moment passed without His remembrance” This emphasizes the point that one, regardless of his station, should never be oblivious of the innate existential amiss and always keep asking for His forgiveness.

“Cause and effect” is a phenomenon of the sequential morphing of things/ideas in the space-time spectrum. It, however, can’t continue ad-infinitum. It also cannot fully transcend back into the metaphysical/spiritual realm. Therefore, becomes unhitched, regressive, and even ineffective. ‘Ex Nahilo’ is an outright negation of temporal phenomenon of “causality”. God (SWT); the very first (primal) cause, therefore, is the sole cause/causer of the Universe. (Creational activity in the space-time realm is known as “Khulq/Takhleeq” )

“When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is” (Q, 2:117)

In the absence of space-time spectrum, there is but an intention/will (ordinance {Amar}), of the primal cause, for the matter/idea to come into being. In the metaphysical/spiritual realm, contrary to the physical realm, no material/tangible cause has to exist to produce a material/tangible effect. Divine causality, therefore, is inimitable by the rational beings in the space-time spectrum. (Creational activity in the absence of space-time spectrum is known as “Takween”)

Takween is derived from the word “KUN” fayakun. It is beyond and above the physical laws of the universe and does not need the matter, time or space for a thing to come into existence. (Ex Nihilo=Out of Nothing). Bypassing the temporal physical laws or the temporal causality is also called Takween. {creation of Adam and Jesus Christ—PBUT}

Temporal causality vs. Divine causality

Here are vivid differences.

In temporal causality, a causer may activate the cause but may not have the capability to determine the effect. He would also not have the capability to alter the effect (outcome) of a cause. A rational being may be dealing with a clear cause or INUS(insufficient but non-redundant parts of conditions; which in itself unnecessary, but sufficient for the occurrence of the effects). This distinction would not exist in the Divine causality.

In Divine causality, The Causer of the cause and effect is the same. The Causer is omnipotent to alter/determine the effect(s) as He wills. The Causer is also competent to produce an effect without cause (Ex-Nahilo). The Causer may pre-determine effects or causes in multiple, and then afford the medium (sentient beings) the application of Free-will (Choice) to commensurate effect(s).

“And when We would intend to destroy a township We had sent a commandment (warning) to its people of authority leading easy lives; who yet disobeyed and transgressed; so as a result of our Judgment passed, We annihilated it with complete annihilation” (Q, 17:16)

Morality, mortified by the psychology of innate fear, sprouts from the Divine religious injunctions. Although it lays the ground-rules for this word, the effects also transcend to the next.

Morality, based on reward and punishment, (retribution) works wonderfully due to the psychology of “innate-fear” of being monitored unimpeded and continuously by the “Invisible”. Religion (Islam) “submission” was enacted simultaneous to the Creation (forbidding Adam and Eve from eating the fruit) and the punishment for its violation was established by the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Heavens. Satan (Lucifer) was also expelled for his disobedience due to his avarice and pride. They were not simply expelled but with specifically (and schematically) mandated rights, roles, and responsibilities; which, in specifically Islamic parlance could be called “Sharia’a” and in everyday parlance “Morality”.

Ethicality is developed by the rational beings, in the light of their past collective experiences. It regulates the immediate, contemporary cultural, societal or communal behavior. It is limited to temporality in scope, optional in its practicality; often floutingly by-passed without compunction. Needless to say that, the resourcefulness of Morality is unsurpassable by the man-made ethicality.

Ethics (Laws) are devised by the people for a community, society or culture; monitoring whereof is also done by people (an agency) employed for the purpose. The compliance would simply depend on either one’s call of the conscience or the fear of being caught by the monitoring agent. The physical absence of the monitoring agency would offer all kind of inducements to flout, as it cannot be established and no penalty would ensue. This is the weakest aspect of the man-made ethicality.

A distinct difference between Divine law and the man-made law is that Divine Law compassionately seeks avenues to forgive while the man-made law is hell-bent on seeking evidence to punish.

Those who envisage morality, without religion, in fact, misconstrue ethics as morality.

After all, man is created with an existential amiss.

Innate Fear, Psychology of fear is employed by the Divine to elicit the compliance of the religious injunctions without the presence of a physical watchdog.

An infant, when made to hold a bar, would continue clinging to it due to the innate fear of fall and hurt until made to feel safe to let it go.

In a situation of distress, “heightened state of fear/anxiety” (even in the case of a non-believer) all boundaries and impediments are dismantled; a connection between the Lord and the distressed-servant is immediately activated, and the call of the distressed is heard by the Almighty. (Q, 27:62)

Innate-fear, therefore, is not just a predicate of punishment, as often complained, but also that of an “SOS” signal, in the situation of distress.

Attacking a country is Terrorism(Except when attacked by a western country or Israel)

Attacking Homosexuality is Homophobia

Attacking women is Gender discrimination

Attacking Jews is Semitism

Questioning holocaust is still forbidden in some countries.

But, attacking Islam, Qura’an, Muslims and the Prophet, is all a fair game, as it mysteriously, in a snap, changes to, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, EXPRESSION.

Recently a ray of hope, however, has surfaced on the barren wilderness of the west;

ECtHR decision to uphold the decision of A Vienna court convicted her in 2011 of disparaging religious doctrines, to an Austrian woman in her late 40s where she was fined $547 plus legal costs, declaring that “The Strasbourg-based ECHR ruled that insulting Islamic prophet Muhammad “goes beyond the permissible limits of an objective debate” and “could stir up prejudice and put at risk religious peace.”

The ECHR said the Austrian court’s decision “served the legitimate aim of preserving religious peace.” The court also said the woman’s comments were not objective, failed to provide historical background and had no intention of promoting public debate. https://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/FS_Hate_speech_ENG.pdf

The Dutch government has sought to distance itself from Wilders’ contest, with Prime Minister Mark Rutte calling it provocative, but saying that there were protections of freedom of speech in the Netherlands.

“The aim is to provoke rather than to force a debate about Islam,” Rutte said this week. “Wilders is a politician who provokes and he is free to do”

Imran Khan is still an unpredictable, unreliable entity to the domestic and International Establishments. Shahbaz Sharif is the sort of last resort option, so is being kept under the clouds of impending corruption cases.

Ch. Nisar, although in reality, a shoe-licking slave of the corrupt master for long but portraying otherwise as a nagging, self-righteous man of his own.
He is considered to be the most reliable proposition by the Military Establishment. PPP, with the exclusion of Zardari, would be given the role of a spoiler or fine-tuner, to keep Imran Khan and Ch. Nissar in check.

Imran Khan, even if made P.M, would be tempered with the most powerful role given to Ch. Nisar.

People’s expectations of Imran Khan need to be tapered down to avoid disappointment. He, being surrounded by chronic infidel-powerbrokers, would not be able to deliver on most of the campaign promises.

When the universe becomes eager to huddle things for a conscious being; it becomes extremely difficult for him to keep his head on an even keel, due to the inevitably enhanced sense of piety and achievement. Barely few, pass this threshold to a station, but of sojourn. And that is only due to; the grace and bestowal of (Tawfeeq—capacity to do well) by the Creator (SWT); without which even the universe wouldn’t have become attuned in the first place.

Advice to a seeker of the Tariqat

Intellectual interpretation of Q, 18:28.

Restrain your lower self. (And to know how to do it and then stick to it) be in the company of those who; all day long; from morning till evening; invoke the name of their Lord, in the hope of getting a glimpse of His Countenance (acceptance/approval). Do not lose sight of them (Men of Allah); do not swerve from their way; lest you be swayed by the worldly enchantments (carnal desires induced by Satan), and lose your way. Stay away from the ones who are desirous of fleeting allurements of temporal life; whose hearts have been shielded from the remembrance of Allah; who chase the ghost of hollow fancies, and their self-gratifying acts are nothing but delusional.

The answer, in brief, is that there is a difference of opinions on this issue.

Shafaii and Hanbali school—consider “Bismillah” part of the Surah “Fateha”. They recite it out loud with Surah “Fateha”

Hanafi and Maliki school —consider “Bismillah” part of all surah except Surah “Tauba” They either do not recite or recite “silently” before Surah “Fateha”

None of these Schools, however, could be labeled “wrong” as both have their reasons.

Example

Imam Shafaii (رحمة الله عليه) has taken the Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah(رضي الله عنه)mentioning that Bismillah is a part of Surah Fatiha. On the other hand Imam Abu Hanifah ((رحمة الله عليهhas taken another Hadith from Muslim in which it does not mention Bismillah as part of Surah Fatiha.

However, the evidence is heavy on the side of “Bismillah” not being part of Surah “Fateha” as Hadith Qudsi divides “Fateha” between Allah (SWT) and His slaves equally. Moreover, the Prophet and Righteous Caliphs are not heard reciting “Bismillah” before Surah “Fateha” in the prayers. It nevertheless, is surely part of the Holy Qura’an as mentioned in Surah Namal 27, V-30. Bismillah is mentioned in the Holy Qura’an 114 times.

Here is how Allah (SWT) responds to the reciter of the Surah-Fateha:-

You say: (‏ (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينPraise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe.

Allah the Most High says: My servant has praised Me.

You say: الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ)‏) The Most Compassionate, the Merciful.

Allah the Most High says: My servant has extolled Me.

You say: (مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ) Master of the Day of Judgment.

Allah the Most Exalted says: My servant has glorified Me. and sometimes He would say: My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me.

You say: (إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ) You alone do we worship and You alone we ask for help.

Allah Almighty says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.

You say: (اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ) Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom You have favored, not the path of those who earn Your anger nor the ones who go astray.

Allah the Most High says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.

The significance of Surah-Fateha has also been enunciated in 15:87 as follow:- “And indeed, We have bestowed upon you seven of the often repeated verses [in every prayer], and have, thus, laid open the [before you] the glorious Qura’an6262

62-{With these words, the discourse returns to the theme enunciated at the beginning of this surah and indirectly alluded to in verse {85} as well: namely, the revelation of the divine writ, destined to serve as a moral guidance to man, who cannot, as yet, discern the meaning and purpose of God’s creation. – According to most of the authorities, including some of the foremost Companions of the Prophet, “The Seven Oft-Repeated [Verses]” is a designation given by Muhammad himself to the first surah of the Qur’an, which has also been described by him as “The Essence of the Divine Writ” (Umm al-Kitab) inasmuch as it alludes to all the ethical and metaphysical principles set forth in the Qur’an (Bukhari, Kitab at-Tafsir). See also my introductory note to Al-Fatiha (“The Opening”)}

If “Bismillah” is considered part of the surah “Fatha” along with other verses starting with letter “B” comes to 63, which is the age of the Prophet (PBUH). Surah “Fateha” with “Bismillah” would consist of 7 verses which are also the number of verses in surah “Al A’raf” Both of these surahs consist of 7 letter names in Arabic. The key word in this phrase is 7 letter word “oft-repeated” and its numerical value comes to 114, The numerical value of the surah “Al-A’raf” is also 114. (The total number of surahs in Qura’an).

“And We have certainly given you, [O Muhammad], seven of the often repeated [verses] and the great Qur’an” (Q,15:87) Also consists of 7 words!

Note # 2008 by Yousuf Ali.

The Seven Oft-repeated Verses are usually understood to be the Opening Surah, the Fatiha. They sum up the whole teaching of the Qur-an. What can be a more precious gift to a Muslim than the glorious Qur-an or any Surah of it? Worldly wealth, honor, possessions, or anything else, sinks into insignificance in comparison with it.

Isn’t it beautiful?

Next time when you stand for prayers (Salah), keep in mind this dialogue you are going to have with Allah (SWT), answering your beseeching (Dua’a). Don’t rush, recite Surah Fatiha with utmost reverence and devotion to feel the nearness to the One who is more merciful than one’s mother.

Unconsciously Nicky Haley spoke the truth when pulling out of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at the behest of three representing; one by birth, second by choice and the third by association/implication, SAYING:–

Abdullah Bin Mubarak Al Marwazi (A Sufi)
“I saw a Christian Monk (rahib) who was emaciated due to self-mortification and bent double by fear of God. I asked him to tell me the way to God. He answered, if you know God you would know the way to God. Then he said I worship Him though I do not know Him, whereas you disobey Him although you know Him, i.e. Knowledge entail fear, yet I see you confident; and infidelity entails ignorance, yet I feel fear within myself. I laid this to heart and it restrained me from many ill deeds”. Ignorance in Arabic is described by the word “Juhal” which is an antonym of knowledge “ilm”. “Jahalah” a derivative of “Juhl” describes an act done ignorantly, though may be done knowingly and willfully.

It is always the sense of superiority (haughtiness) which keeps one from accepting the truth/reality (religion/God). Arrogance exuded from a false sense of wizardry, importance and indispensability become a reason for an incorrigible state of denial. It, however, logically, instantaneously pulls a denier to a lower level of intellect and rationality than the one who readily accepts the universal truth.

In selfish, materialistic, atheistic mode of thinking virtue becomes too fragile and feeble; the truth becomes too obscure and faint, to even register.

For the deniers of His signs, religion, prophets and books; Qura’an uses the word “Arzal”; which morphs into “razil”, “zalil”, “ardali”—lowly, mean, and disgraced etc.

The Arab–Israeli conflict was primarily seen, for many decades, as a conflict between Arab-states and Israel, rather than between Muslims and Israel. Periphery doctrine; an Israeli foreign-policy strategy; was used by P.M Ben Gurion to develop close alliances with Non-Arab Muslim states in the Middle East, to counter the united opposition of Arab states to the illegitimate existence of the state of Israel.

Contemporary politicking is characterized by uncertainties, low probabilities for good and high consequences in terms of deceit, destruction, and miseries.

Strategic-interests of the Israeli government converged with those of the Turkish and Iranian governments of the time. Turkey’s (Military lead government) sought integration with the free-market economies and democracies of Europe, a member of NATO and the EU. The Shah of Iran, being a major ally of the United States, facilitated the dialogue between Israel, Iran and Turkey.

In 1950, both Turkey and Iran became the first, and for a long time, the only Muslim states to have diplomatic relations with Israel. Both Turkey and Iran developed extensive military cooperation. During the 1967 Six-Day War, Iran supplied Israel with essential oil and petroleum. Israel helped in the industrial and military development in Turkey and Iran.

With the rise of Arab nationalism under Nasser in the sixties the relationship between Iran and the Arab world started deteriorating (The Persian Gulf was dubbed as “Arabian” Gulf). This further strengthened the relationship between Israel and Iran.

The overthrow of the Shah of Iran in 1979 was a major setback to Periphery Doctrine. The Islamic regime of Ruhollah Khomeini severed relations with Israel. Ironically, however, throughout the 1980s no one in Israel said anything about or considered Iran a threat—the word wasn’t even uttered.

During the peak of the Persian Empire, Jews are thought to have comprised as much as 20% of the population. Jews trace their heritage in Iran to the Babylonian Exile of the 6th century BC and have retained their ethnic, linguistic, and religious identity. Now their number, however, has dwindled to mere 9000.

Zionist Organization was first established in Persia by the Jewish elders and Rabbis. The Jews of Persia understood that “Zion” is the biblical name of Jerusalem and Zionism demonstrates the end of exile and the beginning of redemption.

Rumors, during the time of Hitler, cropped up in Iran that Hitler has secretly converted to Islam and has taken the name Heydar (the title of Imam Ali). What made, European and Jews, panic was that Hitler is planning to reveal his true religion after defeating the deceitful British, the godless Russians and the Jews.

Unfortunately, the Bible has a little good to say about Gentiles (and barely any about Jews) with the exception of Cyrus the Great; who was the first Zionist, yet exalted in the Bible. Persians and Medes, according to Old Testament, are the only people who hadn’t oppressed Jews or committed atrocities against them. There was Jewish royalty in Iran, including Queen Esther, buried there (as are Daniel and Mordecai). Iran, thus, logically, becomes the second holiest land in Judaism. Israel, nevertheless, is Iran’s arch-enemy always conspiring to destroy or at least weaken it.

Is there any possibility of a raproshma between the two?

It seems too late. The chances, by far, are getting slimmer by every passing day; for the World’s naiveté, despite all the neo-conic, fascist and populist strategies employed by the retreating west, is eroding. Iran, despite being a pariah ( Shia’a state), is increasingly gaining acceptance in the comity of nations as a Muslim-dominated, relation-worthy sovereign state. Bedouin Pentagon, on the other hand, is losing its Shia’a-Sunni (sectarian) tug of war.

It would have been most probable if the Palestinian state was created and the West’s fosterage of Israel forsaken; to let it exist and grow on its own; cultivating relationships on mutuality, rather than arms twisting by its sugar daddy—the USA.

On the other hand, ironically, in the vein of strange realism, Western Intelligentsia and the Academia have already started contemplating and discussing the Post-Israel-Middle East.

After the Iranian revolution in 1979, the country set out to export its brand of revolutionary Islam. As Iran became an Islamic republic, Sunni Islamists were not only jealous of the triumph of the Shia’a Imamate (State) but became even more determined to establish their version of the Islamic state.

The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran has oscillated between indifference, hostility, rapprochement and tension over the decades. Prince MBS appears determined to intensify the rivalry with Iran as he continues to raise Riyadh’s concerns over Iranian expansion in the Arab world and beyond.

Saudi Arabia exportedWahhabi Islam, to counter Iranian revolutionary Islam, across Africa, Asia and even Europe. Saudis are notorious for stoking sectarianism. The two countries entered a fierce battle over the souls of Muslims with Saudi clerics augmenting their anti-Shiite rhetoric and the Iranian counterparts playing down their Shiism to appeal to Pan-Islamic, anti-imperial and anti-Western sentiments among Muslims. Saudi Arabia, despite President Obama’s realistic understanding of the Middle Eastern issues, continued pressing the USA to bomb Iran.

The Saudis see the resurgence of the Iranian influence as a revival of the Old Persian nationalism. Blowing-up the Iranian threat magnifies MBS’s role as the savior of Bedouin-Pentagon from Persianization and Shiification.

Saudis see the brutal war in Yemen, where the Shia’a-Houthis are supported by Iran, as a battle for survival for the Saudi nation and the hegemony of Arabness over Persianization. Prince MBS’s Vision 2030 for the Kingdom excludes Iran from the greater regional integration with the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt and Israel.

Muta’a Doctrine (marriage of convenience) in Politics

During the Cold War, Saudi Arabia and Iran worked togetherwith the United States against the Soviet Union. They accepted a division of labor: Iran provided military capabilities; Saudi Arabia provided theological ammunition and funding against the Soviet Union. Now Iran is replaced as a new enemy for the Soviet Union and Israel as a friend for Iran. A toxic nexus has emerged between the US, Saudi Arabia and Zionist Israel in the rapidly changing situation in the Muslim East. Saudis maintained discreet relations with the Zionist-Israel, hiding this illicit relationship from the Muslim World. Now, however, they arrogantly flaunt it as a badge of honor due to the changed political compulsions.

As is already well-known; the Saudi and Israeli common cause against perceived Iranian influence and expansion; in places like Syria, Lebanon and Iraq of late has forced the historic bitter enemies down a path of cooperation as both seem to have placed the breakup of the so-called “Shia’a crescent” as their primary policy goal in the region at any cost. For Israel, Hezbollah, seen as an Iranian proxy contingent, has long been its greatest foe, present right up against the Jewish state’s northern border.

This new arrangement, on the one hand, mitigates the Kingdom’s fear of losing its role as the “loyal regional villain”, while, strengthening the “Triangle of Hate” on the other. Saudis have presented the Islamic awakening, sweeping the Muslim East, an Iranian inspired plot.

Saudi Arabia, despite the huge reduction in its oil revenues, is trying to maintain its role as a “cash cow” and the “lynchpin of America’s Muslim East policy”. Saudi Arabia’s worst nightmare is the fear of American abandonment for a new regional partner. This will bring Saudi Arabia’s relevance, regionally and globally, to naught.

The rise of the Justice Development Party of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2000s led to a steady deterioration in Israel–Turkey relations. Unlike, previous Turkish governments, Erdogan’s government openly condemned Israel’s policies towards Palestine and blamed it for the conflict. Relations between Sunni-Turkey and Shia’a-Iran are on the rise.

Reminiscing and relishing the past has always been at the heart of all the present generations. This seems to be an intuitive, ongoing thought-process; overcasting the present, morphing into platitudinous future. It is, but, the way of the vulgar; who overlook the present thence, ruin the future. Past, despite its lingering reminiscence, is nothing but inaccessible permafrost of memories/history. Selects ones live in the present only, their acute attention to the demands of the present endows them with a blissful future. God Almighty, always in the present, is watching the traversing Creation from the present to the illusory future while by-producing an inaccessible past. It ought to infuse a contemplative mind to ponder on the imperfection and insignificance of the “Best of the Creations” who is but a quarreling-arrogant. A Man, in reality, has access only to the present. “Man is but ungrateful”(Q,100:6) Vulgar whine when inflicted with hardship, ignoring the bestowal of good. Select, on the other hand, knowing fear and hope; relish the present oblivious of its ostensibility, earn deliverance. Vulgar ought to remain ungrateful regardless.

Back and forth serial migration caused a permanent scar on the psyche of the Blacks. They, obviously, would have felt like an undesirable, unwanted heard of aliens. Permeating the reactionary attitude towards; in particular the whites, and the society in general. It is harming them (the blacks) the most rather than the intended whites or the society. Had they been systematically relocated according to the opportunities, skill level etc; throughout the country; mixing up with the whites and other communities; they would have lifted themselves up; owing to natural compulsions of their surroundings, assimilating and growing at the pace of the national development.

America, most likely, would have nurtured them (the blacks) into the most productive, intelligent and socially cohesive part of the multicultural mosaic.

Unfortunately, they are still being treated as pet-scavengers for political exigencies; by exploiting their naiveté and ingrained reactionary attitude, in return for Food-stamps, WIC-vouchers, and other handouts. They are being kept on the dole-out to be used as and when needed by the old masters donned with a new garb of Politicians.

It is a historical fact that most of the African Slaves brought to West were Muslim or those forcibly converted to Christianity before shipping, by the Dutch, British and French colonial masters.

Ironically, now a class of well-groomed middle-men (Black’s representatives/activists/clergies etc) has emerged, to muster them and make them available, whenever wherever needed.

An especially congregated, supererogatory prayer in the month of “Ramadan” It is, although, not obligatory but is immensely reward-worthy.

Among many things that a Muslim would do during the month of Ramadan, is offering the Taraweeh after the “Iftar” (ending of the day-long fasting). The word Taraweeh comes from Tarweeha; literally means “to rest” in between the four “Rakah” segment of the prayer; for it is normally a long sequential of 20 “Rakah” offered every night, so that the whole Qura’an is recited within the month of Ramadan.

According to a Hadith:

Prophet (PBUH) offered Taraweeh in his mosque the first night and was joined by a couple of people. Next night he was joined by a fair number of people. The third night he looked through the door and saw mosque full of people, therefore, decided not to come out. When asked about it, he said he do not wish this prayer (Taraweeh) to become obligatory for his people. He then decided to offer it at home to preserve its supererogatory status. [Bukhari: 6113]

Taraweeh continued to be prayed in Prophet’s mosque after that in several small groups. Caliph Umer (R.A) then suggested a single congregation lead by Ubay Ibn Kaab. Ubay (R.A) was one of the best Qura’an reciters amongst the Prophet’s (PBUH) companions. The reason behind it was to remove the apparent show of division in the community.

He himself, however, neither led nor joined the Taraweeh congregation for he used to lead the obligatory prayers hence do not want to create the impression of it being obligatory. Upon observing the one congregational Taraweeh prayer he termed it a“Fair-bida’a”

This incident marks the beginning of the congregational Taraweeh prayer which is although not obligatory but is still immensely reward-worthy.

Abu Dharr (R.A) reports that The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

“Whoever stands with the Imam until he finishes, it is equivalent to spending the whole night in prayer.” (Ibn Khuzaymah 3:337)

The Reason, Why Taraweeh Prayer is Important?

According to Abu Hurairah (R.A), the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to urge (the people) to perform (supererogatory) Taraweeh prayer at night during the month of Ramadan. He did not, however, declare it to be obligatory saying:

“Whosoever performs (supererogatory Taraweeh) prayers at night during the month of Ramadan, with Faith and in the hope of receiving Allah’s reward, will have his past sins forgiven.” (Muslim 9:1188)

As for as the forgiveness of the past sins is concerned; the reward of offering Taraweeh continuously; during the whole month of Ramadan, is said to be equivalent to performing a Hajj. Ramadan is the month in which Allah (SWT) rewards all good deeds in multitude.

Let us then avail this opportunity by standing with the Imam, listening to the Holy Quran, and get rewarded for the whole night long prayer.

Many people pray just 8+3(Vitar)=11Rakah which is perfectly permissible, due to the consensus of the scholars (ijma’a) as well as Allah (SWT) being pleased upon His slaves making use of a concession. The Prophet (PBUH) has also not specified any number for the night (Taraweeh) prayer. Curtailing it (to 8-rakah), may, however, make one lose the “whole night long prayer’s reward”.

Dates often termed as the “fruit of paradise”, are considered as one of the most nutritious and delicious fruit. Mentioned in the Holy Quran 20 times, this fruit is of great importance for Muslims. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world break their fasts with dates. Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to break his fast with dates.

Muslims across the globe make sure that their kitchen cabinets are stocked with this wonderful fruit in Ramadan. Ever wondered why? Because, apart from being a powerhouse of various minerals and vitamins, dates have tremendous health benefits as well.

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Indeed in dates, there is a cure.” Muslim (14/3)

Here are some nutritional and health values that this fruit has.

Improves Digestive Health

Dates are an excellent remedy for digestive problems. They contain soluble fibers, amino acids, and enzymes which are a must for good digestive health and also have a rich source of potassium which is known to treat diarrhea. So, if you are having any digestive problems, soak some dates overnight and have them in the morning, this will strengthen good bacteria in your stomach and relieve you from the discomfort in no time.

Good for Heart

Dates have an impressive amount of potassium and fiber that reduces the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body, preventing heart-related diseases. It’s suggested to have dates twice a week for a strong and healthy heart.

Strengthens the Nervous System

Dates will give you nerves of steel. Literally! They are known to have 3 times the amount of potassium found in bananas. Potassium does wonders for our body by keeping all cardiac problems in check. The vitamin B found in dates is vital for mood balancing effects and proper nerve function.

Improves Bone Health

Osteoporosis is a disease we all have heard of since it’s very common among women. This is due to the weakening of bones with age. Dates contain the perfect amount of magnesium, manganese, and selenium to strengthen our bones and make them healthy.

Treats and Prevents Anemia

Anemia is caused due to the lack of iron which reduces the red blood cells in a person’s body, making them look all pale with additional dark circles. Dates not only boost up the iron level in your body but also increases strength and vitality.

Acts as a Natural Energy Booster

We all know how there comes a time of the day when we feel our sugar level drop and crave for something sweet. Dates are the natural and healthful energy boosters everyone needs to include in their daily diet as they contain just the right amount of glucose and fructose to get you going without providing the additional calories. Adios energy drinks!

Helps in Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Good things come in small packages. These tiny miracle workers can balance the sugar levels in your body and make you feel fuller than any junk food you’d cheat with on your diet. Dates are also a healthy supplement for someone who wants to gain weight or does not want to lose it too fast. For those folks who want to maintain a balanced weight, having cucumbers with dates would do wonders.

Relieves Allergies

Dates are the miracle food that can help reduce the awful symptoms of seasonal allergies. With high levels of organic sulfur present in it, they sure act as a tonic for allergic reactions.

Such a delicious food with tremendous nutritional values should not only be consumed during Ramadan but should also be included in the daily routine. This Ramadan, go easy on the sweets and reach for a date. In addition to satisfying your craving, you will get some health benefits as well! Have a healthy and happy Ramadan!

Though it is a famous quote may warrant some explication. In general, good features of a person are presumed to be a sign of his or her being witty. It may be true in some cases but is not a rule of thumb. The probable reason for that is that such a person was lucky enough to have lived a comfortable and affluent life. (This might have contributed in sharpening his/her mental faculties).

A poor person, on the contrary, would normally be scathed by the bad times. Only Saints and Sufis would be able to endure such a torment without a scathe on their personality. An ordinary person often is affected so immensely that his whole personality would be disfigured reflecting itself in his every movement, let along his thinking. It would continue reflecting in his coming generations through mutilation of his genetic make-up. A redress would require several generations to pass enjoying comfort and affluence. Affluence is not the only but major factor. Freedom of thoughts and movements would rank 2nd in restoration.

It, however, does not mean that an ugly person cannot be witty. Such a person would normally develop some supplementary traits; exuding wit and garnering respectability, hence becoming likable. Some cosmetic changes in his/her overall demeanor might be helpful in amending the state of affairs. It could mean that such a person is on the accelerated track of recovery.

“Those who wish to discriminate and say, we believe in some and disbelieve in others, and wish to adopt a way in between -Those are the disbelievers, truly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment” (Q, 4:150-152)

Pakistanis are second only to Jews who are being pampered by God, despite their numerous lacking. What outweighs all of the lacking, I guess, is their unwavering devotion to Islam, recitation of Qura’an (mostly even without understanding its meanings) and unflinching love for the Prophet (PBUH).

Unlike Jews, however, they are safe from banishment as there is no new Prophet to come with his followers. For this huge favor, which extends to, all Muslim should bow down to Allah (SWT), say Druud for the Prophet (PBUH) and thank Pakistanis.

Pakistan is the only state, after “medina”, created in the name of Islam, with nuclear capability, well-tested, disciplined army, is poised to spearhead the Muslim Ummah.

I have been fascinated by the variations in the human and animal behavior from very early age, keenly observing and pondering on their behavioral activities. This piece, however, would be devoted to the human behavior; especially of those, who either behave naturally or pretentiously. The caption of this piece (addition of a new terminology in behavioral psychology) is an outcome of sustained objective observations of several “subjects”, by the writer.

The terms introversion and extraversion were popularized through the work of Carl Jung and later became central parts of other prominent theories including the Big 5 Theory of personality.

Introverted-people tend to be inward turning, or focused more on internal thoughts, feelings and moods rather than seeking out external stimulation. …Introverts tend to be more quiet, reserved, and introspective. Everyone has some degree of both introversion and extraversion. However, people often tend to lean one way or the other.

Introverts are laced with following sub-traits, which are somewhat different than those of the cocoon dwellers.

Very self-aware

Thoughtful

Enjoy understanding details

Interested in self-knowledge and self-understanding

Tend to keep emotions private

Quiet and reserved in large groups or around unfamiliar people

More sociable and gregarious around people they know well

Learn well through observation.

Tend to be around people to whom they are close.

Cheek, a psychology professor at Wellesley College argues that there are four shades of introversion; social, thinking, anxious,and restrained. And many introverts are a mix of all four types, rather than demonstrating one type over the others.

Social: Social introversion closely matches the commonly held beliefs about introversion, in that it’s a preference for socializing with small groups instead of large ones or with no groups at all— solitude is preferred by those who score high in social introversion. They prefer to stay home busy doing something of interest or stick to a small group of close friends.

Thinking: People with high levels of thinking introversion are not averse to social events. Instead, they’re introspective, thoughtful, and self-reflective. Not in a neurotic way, but in an imaginative and creative way.

Restrained/Reserved:Such introverts seem to operate at a slightly slower pace, preferring to think before they speak or act. Haruki Murakami; in his–What I Talk About When I Talk About Running–which contains a passage, that neatly illustrates the concept of a restrained/reserved introversion. In it, he discusses how it takes his muscles a while to warm up when he starts to run. “When I put on my jogging shoes in the morning and set out, my feet are so heavy it feels like I’ll never get them moving”.

Anxious:Unlike social introverts, anxious introverts generally seek out solitude for they are overly self-conscious and feel awkward around other people. Their anxiety, however, doesn’t fade when they’re all alone. They’re usually not very confident in their own social skills. Such people might be suffering from a tendency to ruminate.

Cocoon dwellers: Insecure and overly self-conscious. Defensive: due to lack of self-esteem. Think they know and fully understand everything, including themselves. Pretend to be very social even with unfamiliar people when accompanied by a friend (s), often opinionated, critical and negative about others. Try to control the behavior of close –friends through vague-suggestions or couched instructions. Some are routine “Janus-faced”, one for the public other for themselves.

Note:- Cocoon dwellers, most often, are suffering from psychological issues hence may not be clubbed with the above four classes of introverts. An Anxious Introvert, however, seems to be, on his way to being a Cocoon dweller.

Self-styled introverts – are generally more empathic, interpersonally connected than his/her outgoing counterparts. They are normally self-controlled and rationally balanced. They could also be classed as Inverted-extroverts; who can change sides as and when needed.

A candle flame is a source of light and Charm. Its charm (light) continues spreading oblivious to the presence or absence of the lover—a moth. A moth under the spell of charm embraces it and gets annihilated; providing a momentary ecstasy (flare-up) to the beloved—flame, but fails to impress upon a change in its innate character. A moth, in the absence of the charm, however, gets relegated to the level of an ordinary insect. The one, who shows respect and reverence from a distance; without being burnt, unfortunately, would never attain the esteemed martyrish status of the moth.

This “Martyrish” status of a moth, however, would transform into that of a “sinner” when his behavior is replicated by a human being. “The one who; embraces the Hell-fire; releasing the grip of the Prophet’s (PBUH) hand on his belt, would be a damned sinner”(Hadith).

By Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph. D. President, Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc. (published on this site with his approval)

(This article was first published in JIMA (Journal of Islamic Medical Association, Volume 15, and No.4, 1983. The author holds the unique distinction and honor to be the first Muslim Scholar in the world to declare Smoking is Haram. He did with full conviction and courage. Twenty years later the Ulama have realized the truth and every Muslim country in the world is following suit by declaring Smoking is Haram.)

SUMMARY

Cigarette smoking is the most widespread example of drug dependence in the United States and in all the Islamic countries as well. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Office considers cigarette smoking to America’s worst drug addiction problem. Medical investigations show that cigarette smoking is a major factor in the development of many cases of cancer, heart trouble, chronic lung and respiratory disease and other ailments. Smoking causes more illness and death than all other drugs. Cigarette smoking in pregnant women results in deleterious health effects on their newborn children. These Findings and the revelations in the Holy Qur’an clearly prohibit smoking of tobacco by Muslims. Hence smoking is unlawful in Islam.

Smoking and Health Effects

It is very well known that cigarette smoking is the most widespread example of drug dependence in the United States. A pamphlet released by the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office entitled “Why People Smoke Cigarettes” calls cigarette smoking America’s worst drug addiction problem. It involves addiction to the drug nicotine in tobacco and possible other tobacco substances.

An authoritative British report (1) stated that tobacco smoking is a form of drug dependence different from but no less strong than that of other addictive drugs—the most stable and well-adjusted person will, if he smokes at all, almost inevitably become dependent on the habit.

An Australian government report of 1977 called Drug Problems in Australia – An Intoxicated Society(2), says, “It is important to recognize that smoking is a form of drug dependence, but one with especially insidious characteristics.”

Like many other drugs, the chemicals in cigarette affect the chemistry of the brain and nervous system and create dependence and lead to compulsive use.

More than 56 million Americans and multiple scores of millions more in other nations, including Islamic nations (3) are hooked on cigarettes in the same way as caffeine addicts are hooked on caffeine. A major reason why sales continue at high levels despite widespread public knowledge about the health hazards is the addictive nature of cigarettes.

Most people start smoking just to conform to peer or social pressures. They get a feeling of “grown up.” They find smoking (nicotine) at first acts as a stimulant. Later they find they need to smoke as a tranquilizer. These smokers develop a level of tolerance and bodily adjustment to nicotine. If this level of nicotine is not maintained in their blood, they will experience uncomfortable physical-psychological dependence problems. These uncomfortable feelings are classic drug withdrawal symptoms. Addictive drugs are psychoactive which create brain and nervous system dependence and lead to compulsive use. Abrupt discontinuation leads to physiological and psychological distress. The withdrawal symptoms are headache, stomach discomfort, nervousness, irritability, sweating, change in heart and blood pressure and lower excretion of some hormones affecting the nervous system (4).

The former U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Coop, says, “Cigarette smoking is clearly identified as the chief preventable cause of death (340,000 deaths per year in U.S.A.). In our society it is a major factor in the development of many cases of cancer, heart trouble, chronic lung and respiratory diseases and other ailments. Smoking causes more illnesses and death than all the other drugs.”(5)

Smoking and Islam

In Islam cleanliness and hygiene are emphasized to the extent that it has been considered a part of Iman (faith). It is very well known that a smoker’s mouth is unclean and foul smelling “like a cigarette ash-tray.” Allah (SWT) says:

“And forbids them what is bad.” The Qur’an, Surah Al-‘Araf, 7: 157

“0 ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Eschew such abominations that ye may prosper.”

Al Ma’idah, 5: 93

The word intoxicant has three meanings (6):

(1) To induce, especially the effect of ingested alcohol.

(2) To stimulate or excite.

(3) To poison.

Except the first meaning the latter two are very well valid and both applicable to nicotine and caffeine.

“Nor kill or destroy yourselves for verily Allah hath been to you most Merciful.” Surah, An-Nisa, 4: 29

The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) has said:

“Nor be hurt or injure others.” It is scientifically proven that the exhaled smoke of the smoker is hazardous to non-smokers around him.

The amount of money a smoker spends on cigarette smoking in a period of 30 years is calculated to be Two Hundred Thousand Dollars or more. All this money is simply wasted (not including the money spent on smoker’s health care).

Allah (SWT) says:

“But squander not your wealth in the manner of a spend thrift, verily spendthrifts are brothers of evils.”

Surah, Al-Isra, 17: 26, 27

Body is polluted by smoking. Hence smokers cannot pray until they have cleansed themselves. According to the Qur’an:

“0 ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when you are drunken, till ye knowthat which ye utter, nor when you are polluted save when journeying upon the road, till you have bathed.”

Surah, An-Nisa, 4: 43

The Christians consider the human body to be a sacred trust given to man by God because it contains the spirit breathed into it by God. Even the Qur’an says

“So,when I have made him and have breathed unto him of My spirit, do ye fall down, prostrating yourselves unto him ” Surah, Al-Hijr, 15: 29.

Hence the physical body should not be polluted or injured or destroyed in any way by smoking or taking of alcohol or any type of habit-forming drugs.

The following is presented as evidence to prove the adverse effects on human body by tobacco smoke; figure 1 shows the chemical structure of Benzo (a) pyrene which is one of the most potent carcinogens known to man to be present in the tobacco smoke. Table I shows a list of tumor-initiating agents present in the particulate phase of tobacco smoke. Tables 2 to 5 present the mortality ratios for coronary artery disease, lung cancer, and other diseases. Table 6 shows the adverse effects of smoking by pregnant women on themselves, their fetuses, and their children.

C 0 N C L U S 1 0 N

For the foregoing reasons and for reasons considered elsewhere smoking is Haram or unlawful in Islam, hence smoking should be discouraged and finally banned in all Islamic countries.

All smoking Muslims should give up this unhealthy and un-Islamic activity. The best way to give it up is to stop all smoking completely. Tapering off on the amount one smokes does not work for most people. It is not easy to quit suddenly, but it is presently the most successful way. There are many ways and techniques available for a serious minded person to give up smoking, which cannot be discussed here. For the Muslims who sincerely practice Islam and who submit themselves to the Will of Allah, this should not be a difficult task.

REFERENCES

The Royal College of Physicians, Smoking, or Health, Third Report

1977, p.98.

Drug Problems in Australia: An Intoxicated Society? A Report from the Senate Standing Committee on Social Welfare. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, Australia, 1977.

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1978, P. 686.

Yusuf Al Qaradawi, Al Halal Wal Haram. Cairo, 1960.

Smoking and health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service. P.H.S. Publication NO.1103 U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington, D.C. 1965.

*(Word “prepared” has been used instead of “slaughtered” to avoid any misunderstanding which might be created)

Sounds Strange? Yes, it does, until one reads it all before making up his mind.

First of all, let us understand what is“Halal” and what is “Dabiha”?

Halal:- is a generic term for permissible animals/things, which may be slaughtered/consumed by Muslims.

Dabiha:- on the other hand, is the meat of a permissible (halal) animal slaughtered by meeting 4 conditions, namely:- Severance (by a sharp object) of Jugular veins, Cutting of Esophagus, while invoking the name (chanting-takbeer) of Allah (SWT) and then letting the blood be drained.

Now, according to the (Q, 5:5) “Today, all the good things of life have been made lawful to you. And the food of those who have been vouchsafed revelation aforetime is lawful to you,14 and your food is lawful to them. And [lawful to you are], in wedlock, women from among those who believe [in this divine writ], and, in wedlock, women from among those who have been vouchsafed revelation before your time – provided that you give them their dowers, taking them in honest wedlock, not in fornication, nor as secret love-companions.15 But as for him who rejects belief [in God] – in vain will be all his works: for in the life to come he shall be among the lost.16“

Here I would like to draw attention to a very subtle hint. Muslims, in this verse, have been allowed to marry the chaste women* of the People of Book (POB) by paying them dower.(ensuring the legitimate relationship) On the other hand, POB has not been allowed to marry Muslim women, regardless. Food of each other, on the contrary, however, has been allowed to be consumed (Unconditionally). It is an excellent display of Divine wisdom; by granting a concession at this juncture; because the women who have been made lawful for Muslims (despite being Chaste) grew up on the food; which might not have been prepared as per Islamic rules; and the same would most likely be offered to Muslim-Husbands, refusing to eat whereof would sound offensive and insulting. (Muslim may take their women but refuse to eat their food!). {Explanations # 14 & 15 by Asad, in his translation of 5:5, alluding to this subtlety}

*(Can one, in the given circumstances, find a chaste woman easily amongst the POB? Hence, one ought to see the overall-condition of POB also in the same-vein; necessitating the application of conditional clauses 1 &2, mentioned below)

Here is, however, what has been categorically ordained before/after the concession allowed by Allah (SWT) in (Q, 5:3 & 6:118)

The conditional clause # 1of “إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ (unless you have properly slaughtered)” should be closely observed as it is used in the Qura’an as a distinguishing factor for the permissibility of meat. Linguistically Dhakah means to complete or perfect something.

Legality operates until proved Otherwise.

A ruling deduced from (Q,10:30) has been specified by Al Jassas in his “Ahkam Al Qura’an” that all edibles are permissible and Halal(lawful) unless the unlawfulness or prohibition of something particular stands proved through an evidence of shria’a. (Consider the current religious practices of the people of the book in the light of clause #1 &2).A pertinent Hadith reported by Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah, where Prophet (PBUH) said “By the one in whose hands rests my life, any Jew or Christian (POB) who hears my call and still does not believe in the teachings I have brought, then he/she will be of the people of Hell (Jahannam)” (the language employed in this Hadith expresses the continuity of its application until the end of the time).

Accentuation of the point of eating properly slaughtered meat.

Eat of that (meat) over which the name of Allah (SWT) has been pronounced—The conditional clause #2— (while slaughtering that animal/bird) if you are believers in His revelations (6:118)

And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allah’s Name has not been pronounced (at the time of slaughter), while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under extreme necessity? And, surely many do lead (mankind) astray by their own desires through lack of knowledge. Certainly, your Lord knows best the Transgressor (6:119)

Eat not (O believers) of that meat on which Allah’s Name has not been pronounced (at the time of slaughtering) for sure it is disobedience of Allah (a sinful conduct). And certainly, the Shayaatin (devils) do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them [making al-Maytatah legal to eat (Maytatah – a dead animal or animal/bird slaughtered without taking the name of Allah during slaughter)], then you would indeed be a polytheists (i.e. doing shirk, ascribing partners to Allah)(6:121)

And such animals (cattle) upon which they mention not the Name of Allah (during slaughter) only to fabricate a lie against Him (6:138)

So eat of the lawful (Dabiha) and good food (Pure wholesome, Halal cattle slaughtered according to Islamic method) which Allah has provided for you. And be grateful for the Graces of Allah, if it is He Whom you worship (16:114)

And say not concerning that which your tongue says falsely: “This is Halal and this is Haram,” so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper…A passing brief enjoyment (will be theirs), but they will have a painful torment(16:116-117)

For every nation, We have appointed religious ceremonies so that they may mention the Name of Allah (SWT) upon the animals that He has given them for food(22:34)

So mention the Name of Allah (SWT) upon them (sheep, goat, cows, oxen, camels etc) as they line up (for sacrifice)(22:36)

Relevant Ahadith

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (R.A) reports that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “A time will come upon the people wherein a man will not bother what he intakes; whether from a Halal source or Haram.” (Bukhari 2059)

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Avoid whatever you have doubts about in favor of what is not (doubtful).” (Tirmidhi)

Hanbalite, Shafai’ite, Malikite and Hanafite school, all adhere to the above position.

IMPORTANT NOTE

One should not pick and choose a verse to present his/her own (favorite) point of view. Instead, a collective outcome, of all the verses on the topic, should be the one guiding and binding. (Q, 2: 85 & 4: 150)

Opposite Points of views

Despite all the above quotes and the position emphasized upon in this treatise several Imams, such as Imam Ibn Katheer (RA) writes in famous commentary, “Ibn Abbas and Abu Umaamah and Mujaahid and Sa‘eed ibn Jubair and ‘Ikrimah and ‘Ataa’ and al-Hasan and Makhool and al-Suddi and Muqaatil ibn Hayyaan said that it (the food of the people of the book) means “what they slaughter”; in fact this is a matter on which there is agreement among the scholars that is what they [the People of the Book] slaughter is lawful for the Muslims because they believe that it is unlawful to slaughter to other than Allah and they mention nothing other than the name of Allah over what they slaughter even though they believe things about Him, exalted is He, that he transcends.”

The Validity of opposing views

These Imams; based on their ijtihad (juridical-contemplative-deduction); uphold the injunctions given in (Q, 5:5) as self-contained/ freestanding. In Islamic parlance; where a difference of opinion like this ensues; neither of the points of views is considered invalid or wrong.

(H) “Difference of opinion of Muhammad (PBUH)’s companions is a mercy for Allah’s slaves” Every difference of opinion, in juridical (Fiqhi) issues, is based on a sincerely deduced unique perspective hence become a basis/source of mercy.

The Basis of a difference of opinion

A difference of opinion among the Imams normally stems from the state/understanding of the Evidence such as-(text or hadith);

Un-availability, abrogation, considered weak, forgetfulness of it, the unreliability of its narrator, misconstruing its meaning or thinking that the one in hand is stronger than the new one.

Here is how one may decide which “way” to follow:-

Those who know of the evidence should follow it (Qura’anic text or hadith Sahih) even if it goes against some of the Imams (but not against the consensus–Ijma’a–of the ummah). Shaykh Uthaymeen (R.A)

Those who are not well versed in such a knowledge should resort to a reputed scholar, for Allah (SWT) says:- “So ask those who know the scripture, if you know not”(Q,16:43)

(I seek refuge in Allah (SWT) for my shortcomings. May Allah (SWT) guide us all on the right path).

Sometimes back, I came across a scientific research about the evidence of God through the existence of design in molecular cell’s formation and functioning. The link to which is available below. This research mainly deals with the human development and functioning based on molecular activities. This research explains the above verse with amazing comprehensiveness.

“It is widely known that the DNA is a sophisticated information storage device; encoding complex specified information to make proteins, and directing many highly complex processes in the cell. What is less known, is that there are several other code systems as well, namely the histone*1 binding code, transcription factor binding code, the splicing code, and the RNA secondary structure code. And there is yet another astonishing code system, called the tubuline*2 code, which is being unraveled in recent scientific research. It is known so far that amongst other things, it directs and signals Kinesin*3 and Myosin*4 motor proteins precisely where and when to disengage from nanomolecular*5 superhighways and deliver their cargo.”

The term “taqweem” means to form something into an appropriate shape and in a moderate regulation. The capaciousness of the meaning refers to the fact that Allah has created malt proportionately in all respects; from physical point of view; spiritual and rational point of view, because He has settled all faculties in him and prepared him appropriately to cover a great path towards a perfect development. Although man is a ‘microcosm’, He has set the ‘macrocosm’ in him and has promoted him to such a high position that it is said: “We have honored the sons of Adam…” (17:70)

This assertion has been aptly explained in another research paper which is as follows.

Dr. Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project (that mapped the human DNA structure) said that one can “think of DNA as an instructional script, a software program, sitting in the nucleus of the cell.”5

Perry Marshall, an information specialist, comments on the implications of this.

“There has never existed a computer program that wasn’t designed…[whether it is] a code, or a program, or a message given through a language, there is always an intelligent mind behind it.”6

Just as former atheist Dr. Antony Flew questioned, it is legitimate to ask oneself regarding this three billion letter code instructing the cell…who wrote this script?Who placed this working code, inside the cell?

It’s like walking along the beach and you see in the sand, “Mike loves Michelle.” You know the waves rolling up on the beach didn’t form that–a person wrote that. It is a precise message. It is clear communication. In the same way, the ing in our cells?

The reason why man is given such a coveted status and endowed with unparallel qualities is because the whole universe revolves around him. He is endowed with characteristics which are like that of the God Himself, such as knowledge, power, Hearing, sight, speaking, compassion and Wisdom. This has been elucidated in Surah Al Qiyamah,# 75, V-2 saying “Lo! We Created man from a drop of thickened fluid; so we made him hearing, and understanding” means endowed him with intellect and consciousness for the test. (The word “Taqweem” signifies setting something on the best of the foundations). Word “amshaj” (thickened fluid) in this verse expresses the combination of human cardinal humors/fluids, blood, phlegm, choler and melancholy, constituents of human semen (sperm).

Human beings rank higher than the Angels. A quote from my article “Mysteries of Creation” published on 02/04/2008. “There is very distinct and subtle difference between Human and Angels. The former bear the mysterious knowledge of the Creator and His Essence, along with the tendency to transgress. Whereas Angels have, only the knowledge of the entire spectrum of the creation with absolute servitude without any free will or desires” It is aptly summarized in Surah Bani-Israel 17, V-70 “And we bestowed dignity to the children of Adam (R.A)” “Dignity” in this verse implies the widest range of attributes and characteristics. Speech (with requisite eloquence for praising his lord) is one such attribute which distinguishes man from the rest of the creations. If a man knows God for thousands of years but does not confess would be virtually an infidel. (Not undertaking the pronouncement of the Article of faith). God has bidden all believers to give thanks and praise Him, rehearse His bounties, supplicate; He would answer the supplicants.

Yet another reason, which signifies man’s special position in the Universe, is his makeup:

Man is made of 10 constituents, 5 of which belongs to the Realm of the Divine-Ordinance (Aalame-Amar) and other 5 belongs to the Realm of Divine-Creation (Aalame Khalq).

These are Heart, Soul, Mystery, Secret, Secret of Secret—-&—–Dust, Water, Air, Fire and Self (Nafs). This special formation of man endows him with the capacity to absorb the light of Divine Guidance; hence worthy of being vice regent of his Creator to whom angels were asked to prostrate in gratitude to their Lord, who created such a marvelous being.

It can be elaborated further by quoting parts of sufic interpretation of this verse.

“Mankind is the substance and the revolving (spheres are) his incidental (qualities).9”

“O you (man) (in regard to whom) reason, deliberations, and understanding (are) your slaves, why do you sell yourself (so) cheaply as this?1
“(Since) service toward you is an indispensable duty for all existence, how should a substance seek help from an incidental quality?” “You are the ocean of knowledge hidden in a dewdrop; you are the world hidden in a body three cubits long”13

“We have honored [the sons of Adam]’: Qur’an 17:70. Here, the One God speaks in the “royal plural” tense– a verse interpreted by the Sufis to mean honored above all creation, including the angels, who did not know the “names” [the Names of God, according to the Sufic interpretation], which Adam knew, but the angels did not (Qur’an 2: 31-33).

“Primary aim [`araz](beseeching)… incidental (qualities) [gharaz](need): Nicholson translated, “Man is the substance, and the celestial sphere is his accident.” He explained the “celestial sphere” means “the world” [Footnote]. These two terms, which rhyme, refer to the philosophical difference between the essential substance of something and its “accidental” or external aspects which happen to manifest. Here, it means that the saintly man or woman is the primary end of creation,

and the planets, stars, and the rest of the creation are secondary aspects”.

“Why do you sell yourself (so) cheaply as this: Nicholson referred to another verse of the

Mathnawi (which he translated), “Man has sold himself cheaply: he was satin, he has sewn himself on (become attached) to a tattered cloak.” (III: 1001) And he explained that “a tattered cloak means “the body and the carnal nature.”.

At another place in Qura’an, in Surah Abas (Frowning) 80, V 16, 19 God questions man “Of what material have you been made, A drop of semen?” It is reminder of his humble beginning; then He declares how he destined him with attributes, faculties, and limbs and then made his way easy from that stage till his death. It is said that during the pregnancy a child is pre-destined of 4 things, sustenance, age, life style (sinful or pious) and his state of leading a happy or sad life. (H) The word “Qaddarahu” means everything granted to him was well calculated, measured, balanced and made to suit the purpose of his existence. A child is conceived and developed under three layers of darkness: the belly, the womb and amniotic membrane.(whole process of conception revealed has been verified by medical science).

One of the wonders of man’s birth is that a few moments before the time of nativity the child is so located in the mother’s womb that usually its head is right side up, its face is to the mother’s back and its feet are toward the down side of the womb; but when the time of birth comes, the child turns upside down so that its head is downwards, and this very position makes the birth (process) easier for both the child and its mother. There are, of course, exceptions where some children are born under various complications therefore, their mothers encounter many difficulties.

After studying the research presented and the above passages there should remain no doubt in any rational being’s mind about the God’s existence, His omnipotence, and Human-being being the most high in the chain of creation; which He has described as His vice-regent on the earth. (For, Man is not what eats, drinks, and suffers decays but a Divine mystery, of which body is the vesture, situated in the interfusion of natural humors and in the union of body and spirit).

*Definitions of scientific terms used in this piece.

Histones:–are highly alkaline proteins found in eukaryotic cell nuclei that package and order the DNA into structural units called nucleosomes.

Tubulinin molecular biology can refer either to the tubulin protein superfamily of globular proteins, or one of the member proteins of that superfamily.

A kinesinis a protein belonging to a class of motor proteins found in eukaryotic cells.

myosin. (mī’ə-sĭn) A protein found in muscle tissue as a thick filament made up of an aggregate of similar proteins.

nanomolecular(not comparable) Describing any nanoscale process that involves the manipulation of individual molecules.

It is twitching of the brain, impulsive vibrations translating into emotive feelings yearning for the satisfaction of lust or instinct. It has beginning and end, it is ephemeral. It may, however, be a fractional constituent of the true whole, which we were inculcated with before being descended into temporality. Buried in sub-conscience, it is clamoring to reach its Zenith in perpetuity. True love with fellow human beings is improbable, but an instinctual bonding; which cannot be classed as love. Love could only exist between God and (Creation) human. This love, if true, would require human to lose his “self” or else it would simply be reverence. Temporally speaking, it is delusional attachment entailing unwholesomeness—self-centeredness. [Allah/God, nowhere in the entire Qura’an, used the word “Love” for His creation]

LOVE (Theosophically Speaking–Spiritual)

Most of us observe servitude, whereas love is a gift endowed only to far and few between like, Yazid Bastami and Rabia Basri. (frenzied) Even Prophets do not seem to be the recipient of the gift of love since they are entrusted with the obligations and responsibilities of Prophet-hood. They cannot afford the ecstasy of an endowment of love by neglecting their primal obligation towards their people/Ummah. They are however accorded with the highest echelon of spiritual rank, immunity from all evils, and guidance through direct and indirect means.

Women’s position in Divine religions; is not as it is contemporaneously construed; on the basis of western social and cultural practices; rationalized in the hoopla of gender-equality, since it is based on Divine wisdom. It, therefore, demands an extensive contemplation to reach an understanding of the real role of a woman in Islam. It is somewhat supplementary and utilitarian graced with superlative* dignity and respect. (It may sound outlandish/non-apologetics but is the reality).

*(Islam stands out in conferring maximum rights, respect and dignity to women)

A Look at the Primal Divine Mode of the creation of man and woman

In support of this, two postulates need to be pondered upon. 1)-The woman was created out of the rib cage of man (Adam-PBUH) who was created by God with His own hands (Created by His own hands here signifies the preeminence of Man) and that; 2) – the woman was created for the service/comfort of “The Man”. She was created so, for she was to supplement, as a part and parcel of, man and NOT as his competitor or a distinct equal; which, is obviously counter-intuitive, cause for acrimony and antagonism, defeating the very purpose of her creation. “Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will; but do somegood act for your souls beforehand; and fear Allah. And know that ye are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give (these) good tidings to those who believe” (Q, 2:223)

(She has never been endowed with the responsibility of Prophet-hood, leading the prayer, or divorcing but rather asking for it when necessary).

“O humanity, fear your Lord who created you from one soul, and created from it its mate…”(Q,4:1) Many Scholars and exegetes understood this to mean that Allah Most High first created Adam (PBUH), and then from him, i.e., from his rib cage, our mother Hawwa {Eve-PBUH}

Both Jewish and Christian traditions also maintain that Eve was created from Adam’s rib, although in a literal translation of the Jewish tradition, a rib is sometimes referred to as side.

Imam Razi and others mentioned that another interpretation is also possible, meaning; “Who created you from one soul” i.e., “starting from one soul” since “from” in Arabic could indicate the starting point of something [ibtida’ al-ghayab], and then “created from it its mate” i.e., “created from that same species, its mate.”[Mafatih al-Ghayb]

A scholar who pondered about this verse (4:1) states;“It is believed that there is no text, old or new, that deals with the humanity of women from all aspects with such an amazing brevity, eloquence, depth and originality as this divine decree”

Why man has a degree above woman?

We have created everything in pairs so that you may reflect (Q, 51:49) When observed carefully It is noticed that one of the pairs is always given/created with an edge over the other to make them befitting the purpose. For example, A lioness kills the pray but the lion devours the kill first–for he is the protector and head of the family. A hen, for the most part, sits on the eggs to hatch the chicks whereas cock, for the most part, is busy serenading other hens—to produce more eggs and chicks. This excellence (pre-eminence) of one over the other, as a norm in a couple; is always maintained..“Because Allah has made one of them to excel the other” (Q, 4:34)

The western rationale for women’s conversion to Islam (improvised for this article)

A woman realizes that she is a pack animal and that packs are hierarchical. There is a chain of command. There are the pack leader and his followers. That understanding is built into her nature. She is hardwired to lead (when compelled by circumstances) or submits. Her psychological comfort will depend on a clear understanding of where she stands on the pecking order, and what her role is in the group in the given circumstances. For a pack animal, nothing is more stressful than uncertainty about his place in the hierarchy.

We, the westerners, have been born and raised in an environment where pathological concepts like democracy and gender equality are thought to be desirable and viable. We embrace these concepts on a conscious level but not on a subconscious level, for they conflict with human nature. People, as pack animals, crave for clarity and moral absoluteness. They need a clear demarcation of good and evil, right and wrong, dos and don’ts and a sense of purpose. If they don’t have it, they’ll find one. Whom Allah guides turn to Islam else goes astray and the devil will find one for him. (added on 10/15/2018)

Human beings as the crown of the creation [most innovative, intelligent and beholden to the urges of free-will] may, however, alternate this edge or dispense with it altogether, due to circumstantial compulsions; falling victim to botched notion of gender-equality, hence have been told specifically of their assigned places/roles in tandem with Adam and Eve (PBUT). Allah knows well what He has created; which we humans cannot fathom, even at the prime of our intelligence. “Nature (framed) of Allah, in which He hath created, man. There is no altering (the laws of) Allah’s creation”. (Q, 30:30)

Spiritual Equivalence

Quran provides clear-cut verdict that a woman in the sight of God is equal to a man as far as her rights and responsibilities entailing retribution are concerned. “Every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds” (Q, 74:3)

One may accept it as “Divine Wisdom” —OR— exploit it as “Denigration of Women” It, however, does not mean, in any sense, that she is made either worthless or insignificant or should be treated as such. Both, man and woman have been assigned a specific role.

Her personality and contour, by design, is made attractive to the man. She has been endowed with femininity coupled with, an intense desire for a mate (man) to fulfill her role as an embodiment of procreation. All these factors result in complete harmony and synchronicity; between a man and a woman; (with the help of Allah, placing love and mercy between them-Q, 30; 21); providing a sound foundation, for an efficacious family unit.

Islam, to compensate for her; apparently—obsequious—but in reality; indispensably supportive role–accords her highly respectable status; with specific instructions to be treated with dignity and respect; even in worst of the situations, such as divorce.

Women not only used to help in wars and other matters but also were consulted by the Prophet (PBUH) in certain matters. Ayesha (Prophet’s wife) and Fatima, (Prophet’s daughter) are among the most revered women; describing and elaborating Prophet’s (PBUH) religious teachings, including those relating to women.

In Quran mother of the Jesus Christ Maryam (Marry) has been mentioned by name and characterized as the “Most PIOUS, PURIFIED” woman. The wives of the Prophet (PBUH) have been venerated as the mothers of the believers; hence no other man; after the prophet (PBUH), may dare marry them. Daughters in Islam are considered a sign of blessing and mercy of God. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) used to adore his daughters.

Prophet (PBUH) said that “paradise lies under the feet of the mother”. With these instruction/sayings, it became a religious responsibility, a praiseworthy act, to respect and honor women.

The woman, according to Qura’an is not blamed for Adam’s first mistake (Original sin, in Christianity). Both were jointly held responsible for disobedience, both repented and both were forgiven. (Q, 2:36, 7:20-24)

In another verse, Adam alone was specifically held responsible.(Q, 20:121). {An allusion to his {man’s} preeminence and leadership role}

Accolade lavished, by the prophet (PBUH), on those raising daughters.

“Whosoever has a daughter and does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favor son over the daughter. God will enter him into Paradise” {Ibn Hanbal # 1957}

“Whosoever supports two daughters till they mature, he and I (Prophet-PBUH) will come in the Day of Judgment as this” (Prophet joined two fingers together). (Muslim & Tirmidhee)

The tender touch of Islam for women (Exceptions granted in religious duties)

A woman is exempted from fasting; during pregnancy; or while nursing a baby, if there is some risk to her or her baby’s well being. She does not have to make up for the missed prayers in the above cases. She is not obligated to go to the mosque for congregational prayers. Her physiological and psychological changes associated with her natural functions are also taken into account.

“The traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) relate that Eve was created while Adam was sleeping from his shortest left rib and that, after some time, she was clothed with flesh. He (Prophet Muhammad-PBUH) used the story of Eve’s creation from Adam’s rib as a basis for imploring people to be gentle and kind to women. “O Muslims! I advise you to be gentle with women, for they are created from a rib, and the most crooked portion of the rib is its upper part. If you try to straighten it, it will break, and if you leave it, it will remain crooked; so I urge you to take care of the women.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

Man on the other hand; right through the known history of mankind; has been beholden to the status of; the head of the family, rationality and reasoning.

Quiwama—(Maintenance and Protection)

This alludes to thenatural physical difference between the sexes which entitles the weaker/feminine sex to the protection (as a norm in a couple) of the stronger/masculine sex. Man’s leadership role in relation to his family does not mean the husband’s dictatorship. (Islam quashes any such misunderstanding by clear-cut advice issued by the prophet).

“The most perfect believers are the best in conduct andbest of you are those who are the best to their wives” {Ibn Hanbal # 7396}

Here is how the scholars and renowned exegetes interpret the position of a woman in Islam.

“According to Qura’an women are created for men. Their existence is based on comfort for men”. “And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought” (Q, 30:21) &

“He is the one who created you [man] from a single soul, and from him created his wife, so that he may find comfort in her. So when he covered her with himself, she carried a light burden and moved about with it, thereafter, when she grew heavy, they both prayed to their Lord, if you bless us with a perfect child, we shall be among the grateful” (Q, 7:189)

The Creation of Hawa (Eve)

Adam knew the names of everything. Sometimes he talked to the angels, but they were preoccupied with worshipping Almighty Allah. Therefore Adam (PBUH) felt lonely. One day he slept and when he awoke he found near his head, a woman gazing at his face with beautiful tender eyes. The angels asked him her name. He replied: “Eve (Hawa).” (Means living things).They asked: “Why did you call her Eve?” Adam said: “Because she was created of me and I am a living being.”

Ibn Abbas and a group of companions of the Prophet (PBUH) narrated that when Iblis (satan) was sent out of Paradise and Adam was accommodated therein, Adam was alone in Paradise and did not have a partner from whom he could get tranquility. He slept for some time and when he woke up, he saw a woman whom Allah had created from his ribs. So he asked her, “Who are you? She replied, “A woman,” He asked: “Why have you been created?”She said;”So that you could find tranquility in me” The angels, trying to find out the extent of his knowledge, asked him: “What is her name O Adam?” He replied, “Eve,” They asked, “Why was she so named?” He replied, “Because she was created from something living” (Based on Q, 2; 33 & Hadith narration).

“Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them, guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance – [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them*3. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed Allah is ever exalted and grand” (Nisa, 4:34)

*3 (with something like a handkerchief or a bunch of shrubs not leaving a mark on the skin).

“Because Allah has made one of them excel the other, for they spend (t support them) from their means” (other here is the man) [Al Nisa’ 4:34]

{Explanation/Tafseer}

Al-Badawi said in his Tafseer (2/184): “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women’ means that they are in charge of them and responsible to take care of them. He gave two reasons for that, one that is inherent in them and one that is acquired subsequently, and said: ‘because Allah has made one of them to excel the other’, because Allah has favored men over women by making men more “Apt” in reasoning and running affairs, and has given them more (physical) strength (and endurance) with regard to work and acts of worship. Hence men are singled out when it comes to Prophet-hood, leadership,guardianship, establishing rituals, giving testimony in legal matters, the obligation to engage in jihad and praying Jumu’ah, and so on, and they are given a greater share of the inheritance, and divorce is in the man’s hand. ‘and because they spend (to support them) from their means’ refers to what they spend with regard to marriage, such as the “mahr” (man’s obligatory due committed to the wife) and maintenance, etc.”

{Note:-Firstly, Maintenance here is not limited to monetary or material support, it encompasses every tangible and intangible aspect attached to this relationship. Secondly, In Islam this obligation is not reversible despite the fact that a wife may be a woman of means or a breadwinner of the family—for injunctions are ordained for commonplace situations, not exceptions}

Mutuality of rights and obligations

“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise”

[Al-Baqarah 2:228]

Gender-equality in Islam exists insofar as all human beings are equal and that they shall be equally accountable for their good and bad deeds. There is nevertheless a marked divergence when it comes to the roles of the two; which is a schematic, innate and natural; evident from the episodic story of Adam and Eve, described in scriptures and Ahadith. Gender –equality in the western sense of the word is malevolent, contrary to the natural order of things. Its ill effects, unfortunately, are being portrayed as an epitome of women’s emancipation achieved by the western progress and liberalism. Women have been brainwashed to give up her most coveted position to be exploited willingly as a cheap sex object. Most abused partner in sexual nomadism.

Woman in Ahadith

“If I were to command anyone to prostrate to anyone other than Allah, I would have commanded women to prostrate to their husbands. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, no woman can fulfill her duty towards Allah until she fulfills her duty towards her husband. If he asks her (for intimacy) even if she is on her camel saddle, she should not refuse.”

Note:- (Similitude of prostration to husband emphasizes the pre-eminence of man and importance of woman (wife)’s obedience to her husband; providing him comfort, which is the very foundation of a happy and tranquil family)

Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his Tafseer (1/363): “The phrase ‘but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them’ means that they are superior in physical nature, attitude, status, obedience to the commands of Allah, spending, taking care of interests, and virtue, in this world and in the Hereafter, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Because, Allah has made one of them to excel the other’ means because men are superior to women, and men are better (poised) than women. Hence Prophet-hood was given to men only, as is the highest position of authority (i.e., Khilaafah or the position of caliph) because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “No people will ever succeed who appoint a woman as their ruler.” Narrated by Al-Bukhaari, from the hadeeth of ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr, from his father. “The same applies to the position of judge etc. ‘and because they spend (to support them) from their means’ means, because of the “mahr”, spending and maintenance that Allah has enjoined upon men with regard to women in His Book and in the Sunnah of His Prophet (PBUH). So men are better (poised) than women in and of themselves, and they have the responsibility to spend on them and maintain them, so it is appropriate that the man should be the protector and maintainer of the woman”

Al-Baghawi said in his Tafseer (2/206): “because Allah has made one of them to excel the other means, men excel women because they have more powers (apt) of reason and religious commitment and they are in charge of affairs. And it was said that this refers to giving testimony because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): ‘And if there are not two men (available), then a man and two women’ [Al-Baqarah 2:282]. And it was said that it refers to jihad, to worship i.e., Jumu’ah and prayers in congregation, or that it refers to the fact that a man may marry four wives, (consent of the wife{ves} is not required) but a woman is not permitted to have more than one husband; or the fact that divorce is in the man’s hand; (though women may also resort to authorities, seeking the divorce from her husband, for legit reason) or with reference to inheritance, or Diyah (blood money), or to Prophet-hood.”

Material Equivalence

One may appreciate that; where Allah (SWT); on the one hand; has created man with an edge; He on the other; has granted a favored status to woman affording her some exceptions, thereby maintaining “material equivalence” in their rights and responsibilities.

Social and Political Rights

There are many recorded historical references that at the beginning of Islam, at the time of the Prophet (PBUH), Muslim men or women chose to join the Prophet’s army to fight against his enemies, and leading wars after his passing. There are also occasions recorded in the history of Islam where men and women, would equally, take bayat (pledge) with the Prophet, voting and choosing him as a political leader”

Such positions, rights and equality among all were the results of the support and the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH). Women could take part in social, political, and military affairs. The result of his teachings was not only the promotion of human rights but also encouraging individuals to stand for their own rights.

Fatima, daughter of the Prophet (PBUH), was well learned and highly respected. It is reported that whenever Fatima entered the room, the Prophet would stand up and give his seat to her. Her sacrifices to protect and support human rights were among the most praiseworthy acts.

Property Rights conferred on women

Under the laws of Islam, women have obtained the right to sell and buy property, own business, take legal action, vote, and participate in political affairs. Inheritance law was/is also among the most important rights. According to Islam, a woman inherits half the share of her brother. At the same time a daughter, can choose but has no obligation to support her parents or children, while her brother does. This right undergoes no changes whether she is single or married. She retains her full rights to buy, sell, mortgage or lease any or all her properties. A man, a brother, has the obligation, by the rules of Islam, to support his mother, wife, children, sisters, and the children of his sisters if necessary. If a woman, a mother, a sister did not have the wealth or the desire to support her children it would become the duty of her brother to support them. The Prophet (PBUH) has introduced the rules and the laws for humanity, some honor the rules and some chose not to. Under Islamic law, women also have control not only over their property but also dowry claims. Once she is married, she may demand her dowry from her husband at any time, and in the case of divorce, she would receive her share of the property.

A woman in Politics & Public life

During the Caliphate of Umar Ibn Al Khattab, a woman argued with him in the mosque, proved her point and caused him to declare in the presence of people, “A woman is right and Umar is wrong”

Women role in the early period of Islam had been significantly visible but seems to have been curtailed in the later period*1. Women excelled in the field of war, literature, oratory, public administration, music, theology (Kalam), jurisprudence (Fiqh), Hadith Studies (I’lmul Hadith), mysticism (Tasawwuf), poetry etc. Fatima Binte Abbas and Sikha Sayeeda, the two Islamic scholars, used to come to the mosque regularly to deliver lectures on Islamic theology.Ayesha (R.A) is recorded to have been chanting Adhan and saying Aqama. History records the name of many female warriors who fought against the enemies in the battlefields. Even Hazrat Ayesha (R.A) took an active part in many battles. Umme Atyqah was a brave lady who accompanied the Prophet (PBUH) in seven battles. Wairyh, the sister of Muawia, led a contingent of women in the battle of Yarmuk.

*1 (Most logical reason seems to be the rationalization of the division of labor in the aftermath of an increased numerical strength of Muslims).

Woman as a Head of State

There is no verse in the Quran regarding the permission or prohibition of a woman being head of the state/ruler. The Quran is silent on this point but according to one Hadith Prophet (PBUH) rendered woman ineligible (not incapable) for the position of “Head of the State” in these words;”A people will not prosper if they let a woman be their leader”.*2 this limitation has nothing to do with the dignity of the woman, or with her rights. It is rather, related to the natural differences in the biological, physiological and psychological make-up of men and women.

*2–The reporter of this Hadith Abu Bakra; according to some sources, lacks the credibility.

Though the majority of Islamic scholars do not support the leadership role of a woman or woman as a head of the state, there are some eminent scholars who support it.

Apologetes for woman’s position.

Allama Syed Sulaiman Nadavi (R.A), in his book Seerat-i-Ayesha (R.A), recognized the practical considerations in this context:

This is correct that the natural tendencies of the women make her unfit for discharging the duties of Imamate (government or chieftainship) and it is not possible for the fair sex (Woman) to comply with the conditions which Islam has imposed for the governmental role. For this reason, the women areexempted from the assumption of the authority of the head of the state. But from this, it cannot be concluded that it is not lawful for a woman to ever lead the public politically or to assume the leadership of the army. (Hossain 1987:217).

Mohammad Elius, Lecturer, Department of World Religions, the University of Dhaka published in The Arts Faculty Journal, July 2010-June 2011

If we make a thorough examination and critical appreciation of the arguments advanced by both parties, we come to notice that none of these two parties has been able to carry their points. Arguments given in favor of the proposition and arguments given against the proposition are by and large indirect. There is no verse in the Quran which directly either permits the rule of women or prohibits it. The traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), mentioned in this article, against women as the head of the state are believed to be unreliable and unauthentic due to many reasons. As a result, we can say without contradiction that the Quran and Sunnah. Rather the silence of the Quran and the Hadith on this very important and vital issue is not without wisdom and sagacity.

(The author of this opinion is assuming the silence of Ahadith, against women being Head of State, due to their reported weaknesses)

(Translation of 4:32 by Yusuf Ali)

“And no wise covet those things in which Allah has bestowed His gift more freely on some than the others; to men is allotted what they earn and to women is allotted what they earn; but ask Allah of His bounty, for Allah has knowledge of all things”

Explanation Note – 542

Men and women have gifts from Allah-some greater than others. They seem unequal, but we are assured that Allah has allotted them by a scheme by which people receive what they earn. If this does not appear clear in our sight (view), let us remember that we have no full knowledge but Allah has. We must not be jealous if other people have more than we have-in wealth or position or strength or honor or talent or happiness. Probably things are equalized in the aggregate or in the long run, or equated to needs and merits on a scale which we cannot appraise. If we want more, instead of being jealous or covetous, we should pray to Allah and place before Him our needs. Though He knows all and has no need of our prayer, our prayer may reveal to ourselves our shortcomings and enable us to deserve more of Allah’s bounty or make ourselves fit for it. (an apologetic contrivance by Yusuf Ali)

Imam Malik (R.A) is reported to have opined that a woman can become head of the state in all its affairs.

Imam Abu Hanifa (R.A) would have given an opinion in favor of their appointment as judges.

A rational, logical and cogent explanation

(It would make sense only, when looked at objectively, with an open mind and without being emotionally charged—especially by the women).

According to Islam, the head of the state is not merely a figurehead. He leads people in the prayers and festivities, decision making in times of war and peace, leading in Jihad as commander-in-chief. This demanding position or any other of a similar nature is generally inconsistent with the biological, psychological and physiological make-up of a woman. For example, during their menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, rearing and weaning of children such demanding positions; which require maximum strength, rationality, composure and emotional stability, may put excessive strain/stress, thereby impairing their decision making capability thereby distracting them from fulfilling their leadership role.

Such a demanding position, therefore, is logically and rationally, inconsistent with the natural disposition/make-up of a woman.

The Last word

Islam is a religion in which a Muslim’s temple is not limited to a building; instead it is the whole wide world; whereas the guidance always descends on his heart; a Muslim’s preacher/trainer is neither a priest nor a liberal teacher, but the intellect (Wisdom) descending on his unblemished heart (Fuwad–enlightened by Allah’s mercy through Qura’an, and the Prophet) by Allah (SWT). It’s a religion of preemption to stem the miscarriage of justice and obligation; and if one’s religion is founded upon mere (thoughtless) imitation, he enjoins blasphemy. In Islam, ignorance is an unforgivable sin; so is one’s evasion of responsibility, towards oneself as well as all the sentient beings.

(May Allah forgive and guide us all on the right path with true understanding)

These are two different fields of knowledge and inquiry. It would be naïve to compare them on any logical basis, for they are not compatible and human logic and reasons, including scientific knowledge; restricted to tangibility, empiricism, and repeatability, cannot transcend into the realm of spirituality.

Such questions are generally raised by those who are staunch believers in material/tangible world only. They fail to even imagine or entertain the idea that; there could exist another realm beyond their area of comprehension; despite the fact that they invariably acknowledge the limitation and fallibility of human knowledge, reason, and logic, including taken for guaranteed scientific knowledge. They also talk about many dimensions of the Universe but exclude the spiritual one due to ingrained anti-faith arrogance and rigidity.

Most often a misunderstanding of the earlier religious figures or even nonreligious figures; who laid some kind of claims in the name of religion; which turned out to be false are being exploited to justify the incorrigibility of reason, logic and scientific knowledge, which in itself is deceit and treachery. There are, on the other hand, numerous claims made by scientist community; being transient and tentative — as per the Pierce Doctrine of “Fallibilism”–turned out to be false, should they not then be used similarly to validate the religion/faith?

The good news, however, is that there is a growing breed of people; who have the capacity and will to traverse both the realms with equal ease and certainty.This approach is the only approach which will augment and extend, the understanding and the ensuing benefits of both the realms, to the human race.

Needless to stress the reality, that the Creator of the science is also the Creator of all the universe (s) dimensions including spiritual one. We cannot go too far by just acknowledging and depending only on one of the dimensions of—materiality, tangibility, empiricism and repeatability. We ought to learn to transcend and traverse both (and all) the realms to better understand and benefit fully.

Reality is subjective and perceptive in a spatial-temporal world. It has as many shades as seekers. it entails priori (analytical) and posteriori (synthetic) justification resting on innate ideas. It transforms into a new dimension when experienced through spiritual wisdom–beyond the realm of space-time. It remains available to the one witnessing it from priori and posteriori justification standpoint and also to believer, follower, adherent out of sheer devotion and reverence through posteriori knowledge only. The first one could be Gnostic, saint, Sufi, Mystic and the later one, a follower, devotee, faithful. believer, or a seeker of reality and truth. It is not however yet a destination but a state/stage/rank in the Quest for Ultimate reality!

Qaroon (Korah), possibly the cousin of Prophet Musa (Moses) and Haroon (Aaron) Was so rich that even the keys of the safes were heavy for a group of very strong people.
This buried wealth he found, probably was that of Prophet Yousuf (Joseph).
Qaroon got proud of it and started harassing his people. His people warned him of his misbehavior.

He said, “I have this wealth because of my KNOWLEDGE”
People envious and desirous of worldly comforts acclaimed “Ah! Wish we could get wealthy like him. He sure is a lucky man” Qaroon (Korah) was swallowed by earth because he became ingrate.
People of KNOWLEDGE affirmed, Allah’s REWARD is much superior to worldly riches and is given to—true-believers, righteous and those who exercise RESTRAINT.

Now here are few lessons to be learned.KNOWLEDGE is not a reason/basis for sustenance or wealth, but for steadfastness/perseverance.
RESTRAINT from indulging in forbidden things as— Wine, Women (except wives) reason for ZUHD. Allah’s REWARD for, who observe piety, good deeds, true belief, righteousness & RESTRAINT.
FURQAN (capacity to distinguish between good and bad) could be yet another SPECIAL FAVOR.
Qura’an (Surah Al Qasas V 76-80)

Not based on any research but my personal observations, the melting pot model of the USA is on the decline to a great extent. It is mostly being replaced by multiculturalism, as most of the new genre of immigrants have centuries-old religiously followed values and do not like to give them up by assimilating into an alien culture.

Melting pot assimilation model continued when the immigration was mainly from the western or quasi-western countries in which case the assimilation into almost similar culture was but a natural phenomenon. Melting post-assimilation has lost its efficacy and practicality due to the paucity of assimilable immigrants. Fusion results in the heavy and unstable nucleus with a violent burst of energy.

Multiculturalism is a trendy mosaic of the time and would continue as long as, the economic disparity exists between the East and the West.

It is, in my opinion, Multicultural mosaic is more beneficial than the melting post-assimilation model for the West in general and the USA in particular; for it would rearrange the cultural, ethical and social values; weeding out the aggression and indifference to vices out of the western societies, making them more humane and civilized.

The mosaic approach of multiculturalism entails a rearrangement of living constituents in a natural and organic way.

People from S.E Asia, South Asia, South America and even contiguous Mexico do not have an interest or inclination, despite becoming American citizens, to lose their distinct identities. The same goes for Muslims and to a lesser degree for Jews and some other religious groups.

Surprisingly, Indians are the only group of immigrants who show an uncharacteristic of South Asians eagerness to assimilate, even by pretending to act, talk and live like Americans. They would sacrifice their centuries-old traditions, social, cultural and moral values in a heartbeat. They would also give up their Indian Nationality for India does not allow dual Nationality. Seemingly it is the inferiority complex which is causing this weird behavior. Unfortunately, however, despite all this, they miserably fail in their endeavor owing to their ingrained traits and culturally regressive habits.

There was important but least reported news about letting the Syrian local insurgents out of RAQQA. Ex-President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai revealed that IS fighters are present in Afghanistan and being supplied ammunition by the Coalition’s unmarked Helicopters. It, however, fell on deaf ears for people were at a loss to connect the two stories.

The US army transfer ISIS terrorists to Nangarhar of Afghanistan

(Ahlul-Bayt News Agency) – A senior Afghan legislator revealed that the US helicopters have transferred a large number of ISIS terrorists to the province of Nangarhar in the Eastern parts of the country.

Last week, the US military helicopters transferred over 50 ISIS fighters to Barabad region of the town of Behsoud in Nangarhar province, Zahir Qadir said. He also disclosed that a container full of military equipment was also delivered to the ISIS terrorists in Nari Obeh region of Nangarhar province.

Syrian authorities have caught US military aircraft secretly transporting ISIS terrorists out of Syria to unknown destinations.

Farsnews.com reports: Assad said that the US is now transferring the ISIL terrorists from Syria, especially Raqqa province, to unknown places.

Raqqa was turned into rubble due to constant bombing by the Syrian, Russian and coalition forces and almost all of the three hundred thousand residents were forced to move out. The only ones left were well dug in Islamic State fighters.

Although IS presence in Raqqa was beneficial to almost all the parties to the conflict, but their presence by the Coalition forces was needed elsewhere; where the leader of the Western Pack (USA) is facing an uphill task; even after a decade of fighting (using technologically most advanced war toys) and spending over a Trillion Dollars—Afghanistan (known bastion of a ragtag army—TALIBAN and a GRAVEYARD of EMPIRES). Here it shall serve many purposes. Fight Taliban, Destabilize Pakistan; Pose an imminent threat to Iran, a proxy militia to West’s new Darling India–to help prop up the Indian role of a policeman in the area. India has supplied IS with atomic waste to be used in making of dirty bombs. https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2016/04/02/ugly-face-of-western-darling-india/

Islamic State’s presence was beneficial to Basher Al Assad for decimating any of his opponents labeling them as IS fighters. It was pivotal for the Russian involvement in support of Syria. West’s involvement in the Middle East was also legitimized by the presence of IS. Moreover, it was fighting the Syrian army and Hezbollah fighters, the main targets of the Western forces.

IS fighters as per the agreement reached were transported out of their stronghold Raqqa for three days and nights; on private buses and trucks, for ultimate destination Afghanistan.

Basher Al Assad; an underdog, now the winner, holds 50 % or more of the Syrian land—12 out of 14 Governorates– as compared to 19 % before. He is acquiesced to continue as president of Syria and his removal has been shelved for good. Russia perpetuated her role in the Middle East in particular and the world in general. President Donald Trump, during his recent trip, concurred with President Putin on a negotiated settlement of Syrian conflict, rather than the Military solution. What a capitulation to the Russian maneuvering!

Unfortunately, however, it is the Syrian civilians who got trampled in this fight of the elephants.

End Result.

In 2016, from an estimated pre-war population of 22 million, the United Nations (UN) identified 13.5 million Syrians requiring humanitarian assistance, of which more than 6 million are internally displaced within Syria, and around 5 million are refugees outside of Syria. They were forced to abandon their homes and take refuge in neighboring countries, Europe and Turkey.

Rohingyas are living in Myanmar since 8th Century. A most persecuted Muslim minority since 2013 UN.The Rohingya faced Military crackdown in 1978,1991,1992, 2012, 2015 and NOW in 2016–2017. UN officials and HRW have described Myanmar’s persecution of the Rohingya as ethnic cleansing, while there have been warnings of an unfolding genocide.

Accession into Pakistan.

During the Pakistan Movement in the 1940s, Rohingya Muslims in western Burma organized a separatist movement to merge the region into East Pakistan. Before the Independence of Burma in January 1948, Muslim leaders from Arakan addressed themselves to Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and asked his assistance in incorporating the Mayu region to Pakistan considering their religious affinity and geographical proximity with East Pakistan. The North Arakan Muslim League was founded in Akyab (modern Sittwe) two months later. The proposal never materialized since it was reportedly turned down by Jinnah, saying that he was not in a position to interfere into Burmese matters. After Jinnah’s refusal to accept northern Arakan into the Dominion of Pakistan, some Rohingya elders who supported a Jihad movement founded the Mujahid party in northern Arakan in 1947. The aim of the Mujahid party was to create an autonomous Muslim state in Arakan.

There are 1.3 million in and around Myanmar and about 1.5 million spread in other countries.

Yanghee Lee, the UN special investigator on Myanmar, believes the country wants to expel its entire Rohingya population.

If UN can declare—East Taimour—& —South Sudan— for Christians, why not –Rakhine— for Rohingya Muslims?

(Morality based on common sense! Can common sense be trusted? Ethical Egoism says that “One person’s common sense may be another person’s naïve platitude” It is also called “revisionist theory” for it declares that “our common sense moral views may be mistaken, therefore, need to be changed”)

Morality predicates every facet of human life. It has always been, fervently, debated by the scholars and thinkers of almost all the societies, as to what constitutes morality, what should be its source and how its parameters should be determined and so on. I have therefore embarked on this interesting but multifarious topic to explore; by consulting various perspectives and sources, and present a cogent picture for the readers; to make up their own mind, after weighing for and against reasons and arguments.

Modern morality (or moral philosophy) has a rich and fascinating history. A great many thinkers have approached the subject from a wide variety of perspectives and have produced theories that both attract and repel the thoughtful people. Almost all the classical theories developed by philosophers of undoubted genius are, however, vulnerable to crippling objections. Hence, one is left wondering what to believe?

Derek Parfit,“Reasons and Persons” 1984 put it very aptly as “Non-religious ethics (Morality) is the youngest and least advanced” Thomas Hobbs, foremost British philosopher of 17th Century tried (unsuccessfully) to provide an alternative to Divine Philosophy*1 by arguing as follow. “Suppose we take away all the props for morality. We assume, first, that there is no God to issue commands and reward virtues; and second, that there are no moral facts built into the nature of things. Moreover, we deny that there is any sort of universal altruism built into human nature—we see people as essentially motivated to pursue their own interests. If we cannot appeal to God, moral facts or natural altruism, is there anything left on which morality might be found? After all this, he suggests an alternate, in the form of “Social contract” and commonly accepted mechanism (Govt.), to enforce the terms of the contract. Then he conjectures an untenable “state of nature”, insinuating absolute chaos, to support his hypothesis. “State of nature”*2 is governed by “the Laws of Nature” and Laws of Nature not only describes “how things are” but also “how things ought to be” as well. Things are always as they “ought to be” solemnly serving their natural purposes (Theory of the law of nature). He replaced God with altruism and moral facts and His command and control by an indispensable Government. Mundane and temporal end-result suggested was— “the gain of the benefits of social living”. This outrageous endeavor could simply be classed as a “Blatant Hobbesian Intellectual Egoism”{Dishonesty/Arrogance). After close scrutiny of this hypothesis, Thomas Hobbs is also found to be guilty of defying “the minimum conception of morality”. (By the way, Islamic theology makes use of “minimum conception” with respect to the performance of basic obligatory rituals, ensuring the salvation of the believers in the hereafter).

It might be of interest for the readers to know, that morality is not an issue as such in most parts; especially in predominantly monotheistic and polytheistic societies, of the world at all. Centuries-old religious ethos shaped their cultural traditions and social practices in consonance and the life goes on smoothly. The issue of morality, for the most part, arises when an equitable and just resolution is sought in the face of conflicting interests. It is generally thought that formulation of morality started from the Greeks. This treatise, therefore, would start from there; foregoing the issue of the actual origin of morality, which according to some sources goes back to Prophet Adam. Greek philosophers such as Pluto, Aristotle and Socrates and some other eminent scholars resorted to reason in formulating the moral laws of their time; while counting on the character to establish the virtuous traits of a man. Questions were framed as “What is the good of man?”, “What traits of character make one a good man?” This was happening 400 years before the time of Jesus Christ. With the spread of Christianity however, a new idea of “Law Giver” and “Obedience to His commands” was introduced. St Augustine, the most influential and prominent thinker of 4th Century, however, “distrusted the reason” and taught that virtuous life rests in the unwavering subordination to the commandments. From here on when the Christian Scholars, philosophers discussed the issue of virtues; it was within the context of “Divine Law”, and theological virtues including “Obedience” occupying the central place. On the contrary, Greeks gave “reason” the center stage. They viewed the “reason” the source of practical wisdom. Virtuous life for them was inseparable from the life of reason.

After renaissance, however, morality took another turn and Philosophers stopped turning to the Greek way of reasoning or Christian way of obedience to “Divine Law” but to its secular equivalent called “Moral Law”. “Divine Fiat” was replaced by “Human reason” and by following its directive would decide which actions are right? The question was changed from “what traits of character make a good person” to “what is the right thing to do?” “Virtue” was replaced by secular ‘rightness of actions” & “obligations” thereby promoting the element of individualism and self-interest (selfishness). Human reason gave rise to the conception of Hubristic “ought” as a standard for most advantageous actions; petrifying the Human-reason with inconsistency; hence similar reasoning was acceptable in one situation, but not in the other. Later moral theories from the seventeenth century onward; such as “Ethical egoism”, “Utilitarianism”, “Social Contract Theory”, all were developed and promoted in the same vein of individualism and self-centeredness.

Utilitarianism, in particular, proved to be the harbinger of Religion divested morality. A theory presented by David Hume (1711-1776) formalized by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), vehemently advocated by John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) and his son James Mill. After the 18th and 19th century’s series of upheavals, America was a newly developing country and traditional morality was up in the air. Bentham’s conception of Religion divested morality; in conscious opposition to Christianity; especially for those escaping the Church of England’s persecution, proved to be a boon. He argued “Morality is not a matter of pleasing God, nor is it a matter of faithfulness to abstract rules. Morality is nothing more than the attempt to bring about as much happiness as possible in this world” Bentham was also given the assignment of reforming the laws and constitution of England along utilitarian lines. Needless to say that despite huge influence utilitarianism had severe flaws. One of its more developed forms, Act-Utilitarianism, recognized it to be a “radical doctrine” “that implied that many of our moral feelings may be mistaken” Ethical Egoism, as a “revisionist theory”, also asserted the same theme.

An Australian philosopher J.J.C Smart (1961) published a monograph, challenging the common sense (morality) as it cannot be trusted. His assertion challenges us to rethink matters that we have taken for granted. To accentuate the point further, here is the opinion of a Swedish Sociologist Gunner Myrdal which he gave after his classic study—American dilemma in 1944 ”There must be still other countless errors of the same sort that no living man can yet detect, because of the fog within which our type of Western cultures envelops us…”

Bentham and Mill were leading a revolution as radical as Marx and Darwin of 19th Century. To understand the radicalness of their theory an excerpt is quoted as “Gone are all references to God or to abstract moral rules written in the heavens. Morality is no longer to be understood as faithfulness to some divinely given code or to some set of inflexible rules” The concept of individualistic worldly happiness—known as “Hedonism”– was promoted. Mills introduction of the notion “Individual is sovereign” pushed it even further.

Kantian morality although, hovers around religious lines but; he seems to have circumvented God and religion; probably to prove that besides; all- encompassing God’s commands notion; there are rational and logical grounds on which Divine Morality could be asserted with the same potency. Kant however, abjured the serpent-windings of the Utilitarian theory because, he said, the theory is incompatible with human dignity. (God confers “dignity” to human—Qua’an 17:70). His formulation of “hypothetical Imperatives” VS “Categorical Imperatives” exposes the vainness of Modern Morality. It can, therefore, safely be deduced that most of these Religion-Divested Moral theories provide only plausible answers to the difficult questions, but lack the potency and conviction of Divine Morality– providing definitive solutions built in the rigor of observance of its rules and rituals. (All classic theorists, needless to say, hold not only opposing but critical views about Divine Morality).

Recent thinking on morality is ready to take yet another turn. Philosophers are debunking the ”Moral Law” theory as bankrupt and advocating radical idea to go back to virtue based Aristotelian Morality to salvage the subject. This idea was first floated by a British Philosopher G.E.M Anscombe in 1958; suggesting that modern moral philosophy is misguided because it rests on an incoherent notion of “law” without a “Law Giver” She further elaborated that the very concepts of obligation, duty, and rightness, on which the modern philosophers have concentrated their attention, are inextricably linked to this nonsensical idea. Therefore, she argued, we should return to Aristotelian approach, and virtue should once again take the center stage.

Philosophers in this camp share the opinion, that virtue-based morality is
superior to the other kind of (Religion divested) morality because of the
following reasons.

1) Moral Motivation. Virtuous Morality is appealing because it provides a natural and attractive account of moral motivation while the other kind of morality falters on this account. It can be explained in terms of an example quoted, in Journal of philosophy in 1976, where the value of merit of morality was juxtaposed duty. In this case, a patient was visited by some friend; that made patient delighted but: when he found out that the visitor was just doing his duty and did not really come for him, the visit turned cold and bereft of moral value. The desire to do the right thing for the right reason and doing it out of an abstract sense of duty is not the same. 2) Ideals of Impartiality. Virtuous morality can accommodate partialities very well since it recognizes that some virtues are partial and some are not. It also recognizes that love of family and friends is an inescapable feature of the morally good life. Ideals of Impartiality in modern moral philosophy, however, do not add up. John Stewart Mill put the point very succinctly when writing about Utilitarianism that “Utilitarianism requires (the moral Agent) to be as strictly impartial as a benevolent and disinterested spectator”. A mother loves her children and cares for them in a way that she does not care for other children. “She is partial to them through and through”. Same is the case with friends and family members.

3) Divine Morality provides a pleasing practical “fit” between; – a) Impartiality of reason. b) Adherence to set rules for life, serving everyone’s interest. c) Fulfillment of our natural inclination and moral duty to care about others. Making morally behaving a natural dispensation. 4)An Anthropocentric view of Aristotle (and of many philosophers of ancient); which modern philosophers and scientists vehemently refute, has been categorically asserted in Qura’an. This assertion, in the same vein, also refutes the accusation of the human being as “vein-species”. https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/the-anthropocentric-character-of-the-universe-special-status-of-man-and-yet-his-denial-of-god/ Conclusion A trajectory of traits of both the schools of Philosophy has been presented above, making it easy for the readers, to weigh and decide for themselves.

1Divine Philosophy—means virtue/religion based philosophy.

2Always serving their purpose regardless of our favorable or unfavorable understanding of their operations.

From the earliest time of Islam; even during the period of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH); attempts had started being made, by various groups such as Jews, Christians, and Pagans, to change/reshape Islam. God, therefore, guided Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to guard against t he temptations of such offers. Saying: “They wish that you would soften [in your position], so they would soften [in return, their position toward you], and do not obey every worthless habitual swearer, [And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip – A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful, Cruel, and an illegitimate pretender” (Surah Al Qalam 68, V 9-13) God also guided the prophet (PBUH) saying: “O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination” (Qura’an 66:98)

“Many of the People of the Scripture (including liberals and reformists) wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy on their own account [even] after the truth has become clear to them. So pardon and overlook until Allah delivers His command. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent” (Qura’an 2:109). On the other hand, God took upon Himself to protect the main source of injunctions—The Holy Qura’an— declaring–”Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qura’n and indeed, We will be its guardian” (Qura’an, 15:9). And warned (interpolator, reformists) saying: God revealed the book (Qura’an) with the truth, and those who disagree about the book (its essence or injunctions) are far out in the schism. (Qura’an 2:176) Consequently, every single word, every single consonant, every single vowel has remained intact till this day and will remain so until the end of the world. Currently, there are lots of so-called– reformists, Muslim and Non-Muslim alike, keen to reform Islam to suit their Westaphalic whims and liberal values. They perhaps liken its intended reformation to the reformation movement in Christianity. Such reformers normally are bereft of the knowledge of Islam and even if they have some, it is scanty and facile. They, however, sure have the fervor and zealotry of an extremist— defined by a great American Political theorist–Michael Walzer.

An interesting characteristic of these so-called reformers is that they want to swim along the—propaganda inflicted– liberal-mindset, by distorting Islam to conform to its modern liberal values. In Qura’an, it is stated that when it is said to them (reformers)“Do not cause corruption on the earth,” they say, “We are but (Musleh) reformers”, “Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not” (2:11-12)

This genre of reformist may also be traced in the cross-pollination of Martin Luther King and Rousseau.

God issued an absolute command not to accept the offer of the Jews and Christians (with their corrupted/abrogated ideas–which, by implication, also applies to so-called reformers, liberals, and modernists) in the following words. “Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with you unless you follow their form of religion. Say:–Guidance of Allah is the only guidance. Were you to follow their desires after the knowledge which has reached you, then would you find neither protector nor helper against Allah” (Qura’an, 2:120). Here is yet another verse in Qura’an which forbids Muslims from wavering or taking an impermissible liberty in any field of life.”Those who believe, enter Islam completely, do not tow the lines of the Satan, who is your clear enemy” (Q 2:208) Supplemented by– “Life of this world is attractive (enticing) to nonbelievers; who ridicule those who believe—but—those who fear God(following all commands without deviation, distortion)will be successful (above disbelievers) in the hereafter” (Q 2:212)

After these absolute ordinances, no God fearing, sensible Muslim would dare accept their attenuating ideas. Recent chronology of the efforts to liberalize Islam Since the middle of the 19th century; due to the Protestant theological proliferation; a host of self-styled modernist, reformist, revivalist et al have sprouted in almost all Muslim-majority countries and in the western countries; with some concentration of Muslims. They pretend to have understood “The Real Islam” for the first time; adopting either an extremist or a liberal position, although both are untenable and in contravention of Islamic teachings of moderation. Sometimes they employ alien terms, to sound elitist and convincing, such as “religion is a matter of heart”, emotions or, a borrowed term from William James “religious experience” These pretenders, sometimes go as far as divesting Islam of its ritualistic performances; either absolutely or to a relegated level; consigning them to social exigencies or personal preferences, described as—a personal matter between man and God—-giving this deviation a flavor of Hobbesian individualism.

It is heart-wrenching to know that, Islam is being misconstrued and misrepresented in the West for a very long time, even by a leading publication such as Economist (London). “In persuading the Muslim majority countries to look upon themselves as the Eastern most part of the West, Economist argues, that Islam also implies one to one relationship between believer and the God he believes in, a direct contact without an intermediary and in this relationship, in which a single God speaks directly to the core of a single man, is the basis of individualism. The Protestant ethic is grounded on precisely the same concept” (Economist-Published on May 17-23, 1975 pg 80 Special Survey).

Tertiary guidance system in Islam The very concept of direct guidance (without an intermediary) in Islam is limited only to the first degree of guidance. (It is for every creature regardless of faith or level of comprehension) It is, however, not available, in the case of the second degree; where the intermediation of a prophet and scripture in inevitable, for it is specific to the believers to be imbued with the religious knowledge. Here is a Qura’anic verse which categorically excludes the nonbelievers (including doubters/agnostics) from the guidance of second degree; specific to Islam and a Muslims, for earlier Divine religions stand abrogated. “Whosoever believes in God, He guides his heart” (Q 64:11) also (Q47:11) & (Q 29:69) Third degree is reserved for the chosen ones such as:-“To whom God has blessed, namely, the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous” (Q 4:69) further accentuated by “not the way of those who have earned your (God’s) wrath, nor of those who have gone astray” (Q 1:6 ){nonbelievers or apostates} (Note: – In the case of a gradual progress of some from 2nd to 3rd grade, an intermediation of 2nd level may, however, be involved. Very select few, such as the prophets and the men of God, would become entitled to special guidance absolutely directly—Example being the Prophet Muhammad, PBUH). For those, interested in further details on the subject of guidance, here is the link:- https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2016/10/03/psychological-dimension-of-quraan/

In Qura’an an emphasis is placed on the word “Musleh” which the reformers use to disguise their activities by, using colorful phrases—as mentioned above— and the ideas of social amelioration. Allah sternly warned such people by declaring: “And Allah knows the one who makes mischief distinct from him who promotes good” & “Do you think you will be left alone, as it is? God knows what you do (Q 2:220) & (9:16) Diehard reformist; who persist in their reformation agenda; mostly to appease their western impulse of modernity or to emulate western liberal values; while still claiming to their nostrum Islamic Identity, are in fact discreetly challenging the will of God as was done by the people of the old. “Evil is that for which they have sold out their selves: that they should deny what Allah has revealed, so they came out wrath upon wrath” Q 2:90 (Jews held a grudge against God as to why an Arab, (Muhammad-PBUH), instead of a Jew was awarded prophethood—for they wanted God to have acceded to their wish/desire).

This kind of strain of thought is often exhibited in complaints, atheist hurl at God’s retributive system.

Islam, in the Qura’an, Has been specifically designated as a moderate religion. In verse 143 of Surah Baqara, it is said: “We made you a moderate Ummah” (nation/community). Here is the exegetical account of this verse. God has bestowed upon the Islamic Ummah an unparalleled distinction of being moderate, balance, central and just. Exegetists also used a synonym “Mu’tadil” to fully explain the veracity of the word “Wast” (middle, central), which means moderate, temperate just, equal. For, it is of utmost importance for the health and vibrancy of any community/body to maintain its equilibrium and temperateness, else a deterioration or illness would ensue. This concept/doctrine of Moderation has been further elaborated in another verse (Q 57: 25) by pointing towards its objective, saying: “We sent Book and the Balance, so that men might uphold justice & We sent the iron in which there is great strength—it is of many uses for men” Book here signifies the source of guidance and Balance denotes justice, equilibrium, moderation and temperateness in man’s behavior with firmness and strength of the iron. The characteristics of the “TRUTH” & “JUSTICE” are further stressed in the verse (Q 7:181) “ We have created an Ummah (Of Muslims) which guides by the truth and by doing justice with it”(dispenses the justice guided by the truth).

EXCEPTIONALISM OF ISLAM Let us be clear about Islam that; it is distinctive in its relationship to politics and public life. Islam is different from any other Divine or even Major religions. It, therefore, entails profound ramifications for the world, we all live in. We may like it or not. We may accept it or not. Despite extreme Anti-Islam, Anti-Muslim sentiments, it is an enduring reality. The world has to understand it, respect it and live with its EXCEPTIONALISM.

Another fact to be borne in mind is that; Islam’s political dimension is also distinct from the West’s politico-religious experience of Protestant Reformation; followed by Enlightenment, culminated at modern-liberalism. That was in response to the Catholic Church’s Clerical stranglehold over the Christian doctrine and practices. Islamic doctrine and Practices, fortunately, face no such stranglehold, mainly due to its exceptionalism. Islam could not and would not be pushed into the private realm as was Christianity. This fact should be imprinted upon the minds of so–called Liberals and Reformists. Islamists from 1928 to date, despite their arduous gradualistic/continual approach, are reeling from their failures. Reformists, Liberals, therefore have no choice but to come to terms with Islam’s Exceptionalism. In mainstream Islam, clerics (unlike Catholic Clerics or Shia’a Clerics in Iran) do not wield power as such but rather provide a crucial check on the ruling class against excesses.Western cultural-essentialism however, prevents these liberals, reformists, from appreciating the role Islam is playing in the Muslim world and beyond.

These so-called reformists not only advocate a “progressive” (actually confuted) interpretation of the Islamic Laws but also its basic irrelevance to the public life—on the pattern of separation of religion from the politics in the west—the foundation of a pluralistic post-enlightenment, modern liberal society. Given the Islamic historical imperatives, it is not only difficult but almost impossible. Here is an interesting and enlightening quote, from late Harvard Scholar (a reformist) Shahab Ahmed: “of the capaciousness, complexity, and often outright contradiction contained within the historical phenomenon* of what we call Islam”. He further says: “But each faith tradition is also defined by boundaries expectations, and the accumulated weight of history. What religious scholars and lay believers alike have committed themselves to for centuries” –in the case of Islam, since its very founding— its (reformation) is irrelevant, for the simple reason that if something has never been done before, then it is least likely that it will start being done all of a sudden, fourteen centuries later.

It is continuously propagandized by the antagonists of Islam that it is a retrograde, medieval, backward, fundamentalist and anti-modernity religion of antiquity. Whereas Islam is the most modern, most sophisticated religion of any major religions. This presents us with a paradox: It is precisely the Islam and Islamic Law’s modern bent that makes Islam all the more relevant and resonant in today’s politics. Within Islam’s vast legal traditions, there are a number of ideas and precedents that lend themselves to modern notions of social justice, rule of law, egalitarianism, guaranteed women’s rights to own property, make their own living, compulsory redistribution of the wealth (Zakat—a mandatory year-end deduction/payment from the wealth held by a Muslim) and social security (Baitul-Mal—a state-managed public trust-fund) for older or handicapped people.

Freedom of Choice and rule of law Lacking, church-like (or Vatican like) dominant an institution, a Pope like head-clergy, availability of several schools of thought and the instrument of Ijtihad: there is ample scope of choice and adaptability. In Islam, due to its overarching corpus juris (Shari’a), both the caliph (head of state) and the subjects are treated equally. A caliph cannot claim unlimited or absolute (king-like) authority because the sovereignty belongs to God. All these instrumentalities ensure the freedom of choice and rule of law. (under the Islamic{ shaia’a}law, as the law of the land). In nutshell, there is no logical reason for Muslims to choose either Modernity or Liberal ReformationL over already most modern Islam. One could be fully modern and yet a fully-fledged good Muslim. Muslims, therefore, had never been in need of choosing between, their own traditions and those of others. Shura (Consultation) and Ijma’a (Consensus); the precursors of modern Democracy; are in fact, updated and repackaged products, borrowed from the Islamic heritage.

Failures of liberalization experiments At the time of religious and cultural encroachment through colonial rule, the assertion of Islam became distinctly political rather than just, or primarily, theological. Given its uniqueness, those (colonial) forces could not strip Islam of its better status, vibrancy and exceptionality: reducing it to just another religion. (Like Christianity) To the extreme surprise of many, Islam happened to be the most modern of Abrahamic religions. Islamic Corpus Juris (Sharia’a) proved to be more secular than the Christian conceptions of Law and Politics. It is a kind of the point of departure, since it is, kind of, the secularity of Sharia’a, which makes it more relevant and resonant in present political landscape. Islam already embraces the concepts of pluralism, politics, consultative and consensual processes (precursors of democracy) whereas, Christianity came into conflict and lost.

Egypt, Turkey, and Tunisia have a long history of reformation/liberalization of Islam as well as the Forced secularization (Westernization) experiments and their eventual failures. This trend, in the modern times, started in the 19th Century by Heavyweights such as Sayyed Qutub, Mohd Abduh, Jamal-Ud-din Afghani, Rashid Rida and Hassan Al Banna etc. This effort, despite miserable failures, is still underway owing to the current Islamists/reformers such as Ikhwan ul Muslemeen (Egypt), Erdogan (AKP), and Rached Ghannouchi (Ennahda). Ghannouchi of Tunisia tried to change Islamism and perhaps even Islam, assuming that the two are interrelated. He thought that the ideological divides somehow could be transcended by neutralizing them. The greatest failure of such Islamists/reformers is owed to their politicizing Islam; Polarization is inevitable when Islam seizes to be, as it once was, (unadulterated) the source of unity, solidarity, and consensus. The underlying reason for any such attempt’s failure is that Muslims by definition; as per the revised assessment of an Islamist Abdul Moneim Abul Futou; are Salafi, in the sense that they emulate the most pious earlier Aslaf (Prophet-PBUH, Companions, and two succeeding generations) and support the Sharia’a. Surprisingly, in most of the Muslim-majority countries and across the board, Muslims, despite all these reformation efforts, are becoming more devoutly observant.

He also confessed that the titles of liberal or Islamist/reformist are just for political exigency.CONCLUSION Liberalism (a precursor of Atheism) and Islam cannot go together as the former fails to provide much except general disdain of religion and letting the men loose; to choose their own way of life (doing away even with the distinction between virtuousness and sinfulness); whereas later provides an affirmative vision for leading a benevolent and virtuous life in this world, as well as a blissful life in the next. (For a Muslim, it is the very foundation of his creed and purpose of being).

This is the main reason why liberals, reformists fall back on virulent anti-Islam attacks.

Islam for various cultural, historical and theological reasons is distinctive in how it relates to politics. Often recurring themes in the west such as “Islam is the Problem” and “Islam needs a reformation” are the result of liberals/reformists unwillingness and inability to understand, as to how and why Islam, in its original form, matters to so many all around the world? It is simply a modus Vivendi and raison d’etre for a Muslim.

Nation state & Islam Wael Hallaq, an Islamic Law scholar, charges Islamists being obsessed with the Modern-State. US foreign policy stalwarts such as Henry Kissinger and Dennis Ross charge them for being incompatible with the Westphalian order. It simply exposes the inherent weakness of the skewed thinking of Islamists/reformist. Nation state and Islam, despite their tenuousness, co-exist anyway!

Caliphate The concept of Caliphate, after the demise of Ottoman Empire in 1924, never died but rendered near-impossible. The emergence of Islamic State, despite its unwarranted violent behavior, colossal failures and possible annihilation, has nevertheless, resuscitated and strengthened the potential for a Pan-Islamic Caliphate on the Salafi Model (opposite to Islamic-State’s extremist model). For the West, The only long term solution (keeping up with its centuries-old traditions of inclusiveness and tolerance) is to let the Islam find its place in the western societies on the model of consensual democracy in the Western Europe. Islam for Muslims is as –non-negotiable—as the human rights are in the American Constitution and in those of many other countries. The operation of (Shari’a) courts should be allowed on the pattern of Canon Law Courts and Jewish Law Courts. West has to work around the ideological and foundational divides; which, most likely, will remain constant.

Statistical facts, validating the inexorability of Islam According to “The Almanac Book of Facts”, the population increased 137% within the past decade and the Christianity increased 46%, while Islam increased 235%. 100,000 people per year converting to Islam, only in America. For every 1 male convert to Islam 4 females convert to Islam.

*Much of the early Islamic history (not the religion) available today is based on the Ahadith and is challenged for lack of basis in primary source material and contradictions based on secondary material available. (History should not be confused with the actual Islam—primary source for which is, the Holy Qura’an and only authentic Ahadith as the secondary source). Italic text

“Let not the believers take those who deny the truth for their allies in preference to the believerssince he who does this cuts himself off from God in everything – unless it is to protect one against them in this way. But God warns you to beware of Him: for with God is all journeys’ end.” (Q, 3:28)

Although, it can be easily understood from the Qura’anic text that dealing with the Non-Muslims, despite the requisite cordiality, compassion and empathy, ought to be within defined limitations. Non-Muslim should be helped and dealt with on purely humanitarian/empathetic grounds, but without, any emotional attachment. Such attachment is permissible only with fellow Muslim. The obviating reason is that they do not subscribe to Islamic faith/religion and are rather against it. Disbelievers (in Islam) are described in Qura’an as the enemies of Allah (SWT)(Q, 8: 59,60){Despite the fact that, they may express nothing of the sort, or may even offer a favorable opinion—which would tantamount to a lip service in the face of their disbelief}.

Note:- From the Psychological point of view, such contents of words may be fallacious, due to their (Non-Muslim) long ingrained and sustained experiences otherwise, for their body language would be sending a (true but) contrary messages.

A formal friendship at the level of mutual dealing is, no doubt, permissible; but, that too is not favored if Unnecessary.

In Qura’an it has been declared repeatedly that– they would like to see you adopting their faith and way of life. (Psychological truth) From everyday experiences; it is clearly evident that most often; Muslims who befriend with Non-Muslims; imitate and emulate them, compromising their distinct identity and religion. So called liberal/secularist/modernist Muslim even talk in their language, temerariously criticizing Islam, Qura’an and the Prophet (PBUH). It has therefore been sternly warned that such people cut off any bond with Allah (SWT), for they become one of them (disbelievers) (Q, 3:28).

Allah (SWT) in Qura’an, used the word “Zalimun” instead of “Kafiroon”; Likely widening the scope, to include such people. Allah therefore clearly forbids a true Muslim from keeping the company of not only the Non-Muslims but also of those, acting like them. It has been said in (Q, 6:70) that “unbelievers; are the people, who have been detained in the punishment of their evil deeds”. Which is further articulated in verse (Q, 47:15) by declaring that “their entrails will be shattered apart” (due to drinking boiling water as the punishment for their denial and disbelief). This verse also informs that their disbelief is harmful to those who like to sit in their company hence would be caught up in the same punishment as the disbelievers. (Ma’araful Qura’an Pg. 393, vol 3). As the wrong environment affects its surrounding so does the bad company by pushing human beings into the abyss of sinfulness. “This is how Allah (SWT) brings disgrace, damnation upon those who do not believe, for their hearts are not open for the truth but dash for the evil”. (Q, 6:125).

Several verses, with varying shades of meanings, against the FRIENDSHIP WITH NON-MUSLIMS are presented in the Holy Qura’an. Some of which are:-

IMPORTANT NOTICE

One should not pick and choose a verse to present his/her own (skewed) point of view instead a collective outcome, of all the verses on the topic, should be the one guiding and binding. (Q, 2: 85 & 4: 150)

Allah’s enemy is your enemy.

“O those who believe do not take my enemy and your enemy as friends having love for them and whosoever from among you do that have gone astray” (Q, 60:1)

A friend with them is one of them.

“O those who believe do not take Jews or Christian as friends, for they are friends among themselves. And whosoever has friendship with them is one of them” (Q, 5:51)

Believers shouldn’t befriend with unbelievers, even if kinfolk.

“You shall not find those who believe in Allah and in the hereafter having friendship with those who have enmity with Allah and His Messenger, even though they may be their fathers or sons or brothers or members of their tribes” (Q, 58:22)

Feeling honored/proud by having Non-believers as friend

Those, who take disbelievers as their allies instead of the believers, Do they seek with them honor {through power}? But indeed, honor belongs to Allah (SWT) entirely. (Q, 4:139)

Sitting in the company of Non-believers

And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah (SWT) (recited), they are denied (by them) and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation.Indeed you would then be like them. Indeed Allah (SWT) will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together, (Q, 4:140)

The only friends

Your friends can only be Allah (SWT), His Prophet (PBUH) and those who believe” (Q, 5:55)

Social interaction with Non-Muslims, for clear understanding and exercising due restraint, has been described, under four (4) categories.

Mawalat.(Affairs of the Heart) –For Allah knows what is in your hearts–(3:29) (Relations involving Love or Emotional attachment).

This is specifically What all these verses vehemently prevent a Muslim from.

Psychological reasoning

Need to belong

According to the hierarchy of needs, humans need to feel love (sexual/non-sexual) and acceptance from others. In fact, the need to belong is so innately ingrained that it may be strong enough to overcome physiological, safety needs, as well as religious restraints, such as children’s attachment to abusive parents or staying in abusive romantic relationships or a Muslim woman marrying a Non-Muslim man. Such examples illustrate the extent to which the psychobiological drive to belong is entrenched hence harmful (one may, therefore, appreciate the rationale and vehemence with which Islam prohibits such a bond between the two with clashing/contradicting religious beliefs.

Attachment Theory

Social acts that reinforce feelings of attachment also stimulate the release of neurotransmitters such as oxytocin and endorphin, which alleviate stress and create feelings of contentment. Such contentment, however, may prove to be fleeting due to ingrained religious disparity and even if it is fictitiously presumed to be there, in the beginning, may evade soon.

Prophetic injunctions

Apart from the above cited psychological reasons, there is a logically reasoned Injunction issued by the Prophet (PBUH) which lays the ground rules for an association (particularly the marriage as any other type of association is out of the question in Islam).

In Islam, there is a concept of “Kuf” which means —equal, alike or matching. Under this Principal, there are two sub clauses which need to be considered when accepting/rejecting the marriage proposals. (or contemplating an association for that matter).

These are “Lineal Homogeneity” & “Familial Homogeneity” Prophet has instructed that girls should be married in their”Kuf” which means—equality(compatibility)—rather than equalness. The likeness of spouses in their religion is incumbent and necessary for the validity of the marriage. The marriage of a Muslim girl with a disbeliever is not valid; even if the girl agrees to it. (So is not the interpersonal relationship). (religio-legal verdict—hukme-tashriee).

The rationale here is that it is not simply the matter of “right of woman”; which may be dropped at her pleasure, Instead, it is the “right of God” –a Divine- injunction, under the clause of Familial Homogeneity.

A question or doubt may be raised about the whole religio-legal-verdict stated above. The validity of it has very eloquently and in unequivocal terms been stated in Qur’an as– “Prophet has more right to men and women of his (Ummah) community than their own selves” and also that “And it becomes not a believing man or woman, when Allah and His prophet have decided an affair (for them) that they should claim any “say” in that matter” Surah Al Ahzab 33, V 6 & 36

Finally, Allah forbade such relationship in categorical terms in Surah “Mumtahinah”–(She who is examined) #60, V – 10–in the following words “Neither these (Muslim women) are lawful for them, Nor are those (unbelievers) lawful for these (believing) women” All such relationships which existed at the time of revelation of this verse were ipso-facto severed.

Muwasat. (Concern)

Non-Muslims ought to be dealt with favor, generosity, compassion, sympathy, and concern. It also includes charitable help and support, condolence, consolation or any other well-intentioned attitude of wishing them well. Confirmed in the following verse:

“Allah does not forbid you from treating those, who have not fought with you because of your faith, nor have they driven you out of your homes, with benevolence and equity” (Q, 60:8)

This category involves things such as employment, wages, industry, technology, business dealings, benevolence, and human-interests.

Note: Most of the permissible interactions, however, would become impermissible if it becomes harmful to the interest of the general body of Muslims such as arms sales to a group fighting against Muslims.(war situation exemptions to older folks, Non belligerent folks, children, religious folks(priests/monks etc), places of worship, livestock and crops/orchards etc nevertheless, would apply).

Exception

An exception; under the category of MAWALAT; where there is a severe threat to one’ life or overarching-interest, is allowed. “Unless you guard yourselves against an apprehension from them” in such a case an (outwardly) expression of affection and love is permissible (Q, 3:28). This position is also supported by the Hadith, “Allah (SWT) has forgiven my people from, mistakes, forgetfulness, and acts done under compulsion/duress” (*1)

At times it happens that people emotionally attached to Non-Muslims verbally deny it in the presence of fellow Muslims. Such people have been warned by Allah in the following words, “whether you conceal what is in your heart or disclose it, Allah knows it” (Q, 3:29)

A superficial look at the inhibitive verses might generate an intolerant view of Islam which is dispelled in various verses of the Holy Qura’an, Ahadith, Sunnah and the dealings of the revered Companions.

How Prophet (PBUH), Sahabah & Khulafa’a dealt with Non-Muslims?

Examples

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), at the time of famine in Mecca, personally went out to help his enemies who drove him out of Mecca earlier.

Then after the conquest of Mecca, he gave general amnesty to all those who fought against him.

Caliph Umer Farooq allowed stipends and allowance to needy Non-Muslims living under his rule.

An Obvious question, however, may arise here, why Allah (SWT) has warned against the friendship with Non-Muslims so sternly?

The answer is given through a Qura’anic verse and a Hadith (Bukhari and Muslim). “My Prayer, my sacrifice, my life, my death all are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds” (Q. 6:162) Prophet (PBUH) has been reported to have said “Whoever loves for the sake of Allah (SWT) and whoever hates for the sake of Allah (SWT), has perfected his faith”(*2) It means that Iman/Faith remains incomplete unless a Muslim’s love, friendship, hate and enmity all are subordinated to Allah Almighty. That is why at the end of verse 3:28, for the ones who defy this injunction, it is said that “you are one of them”.

The premise on which the edifice of—“No-intimate relationship with Non-Believers”— is based is the primal purport of the temporal life of a Muslim.

The primal-purport of a Muslim’s life is to remember and serve Allah(SWT). Everything else including all affairs of life, politics, business, Government and social relationships ought to be subservient to this primal purport.

Conclusion

(Allah (SWT) therefore has strongly forbidden an intimate friendship/relationship with any Nonbelievers under any circumstances).

It is hoped that this treatise would help men and women of understanding in tackling the endemic of the entrenched interpersonal relationship between Muslims and Non-Muslims with Divine guidance; provided through Qura’an and Hadith, while applying humanlogic and reasoning as well rather than succumbing to the reflexes of sentimentality.

Every Muslim invariably uses this phrase one way or the other. It is also used as a battle-cry.

In the west, however, this phrase has, by design, been associated with terrorist-attack.

In general, everyone including Non-Muslim, know its, obvious exoteric meaning: “God is great”. Most of the people, however, do not know its esotericgrandeur, splendor and majesty.

An attempt, therefore, is made to explain/present the grandeur and splendor of this phrase. I, earnestly, seek the help of Almighty Allah (SWT) to make me able to explain it properly.

The earth we live on (specifically fashioned to suit the human habitation) was created before the creation of the Universe. It is worth noticing that although Qura’an mentions “seven”earths but none of the rest of the six has so far been discovered; as the exact replica of our earth, including the recently discovered (Exoplanet 452b) earth-II.

Like this:

In 1521, the Portuguese navigator and explorer Ferdinand Magellan carrying the Spanish flag came across the Philippines while searching for the Spice Island. (most likely Indian sub-continent) Ferdinand Magellan and his men landed in Cebu Island in the central Philippines instead.

With his arrival in Cebu on March 17, 1521, his first attempt was to colonize and Christianize the islands and its inhabitants. The story goes that Magellan met with Rajah Humabon, the ruler of the Cebu island, who had an ill grandson. Magellan (or one of his men) was able to cure or help the young boy recover, and in gratitude, RajahHumabon allowed himself, his chief consort Humamay, and 800 of his subjects to be baptized en masse. (No Independent confirmation of this fabricated story, however, is available).

After Magellan died, the Spanish government replaced him by sending Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. He arrived in Cebu…

Like this:

“Depopulation should be the highest priority of foreign policy towards the Third World.”

A game turned against the perpetrators.

“And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners” (Q, 3:54)

We are all familiar with the slogan “Family Planning” hurled all over the world. Most of the western countries “unwittingly”, oblivious of its bitter outcome, embraced and practiced it religiously.

Thomas Robert Malthus, an English cleric and philosopher; abandoning his religiously structured thinking for secularism, penned his catastrophic theory in 1798. He came up with the weird concepts of geometrical population growth in comparison to arithmetical food supply growth; concluding that resulting disparate population growth; in terms of diminishing return, would result in food shortage.

He further theorized that so created imbalance could be corrected through preventive and positive checks on population growth to a sustainable level. The…